Fabulous Fishes [Hardcover]

Susan Stockdale (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

With a simple, rhyming text and brightly colored, richly textured illustrations, author-illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to different kinds of fish and the underwater world they call home.

From the spiky lionfish and the brightly colored clownfish to lanternfishes and hatchetfishes that flash lights so they can find each other in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, children will be fascinated by the breadth of sea life depicted. An Afterword offers fascinating facts and an in-depth look at each fish.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Shiny fish / spiny fish, / fish that hitch a ride. With a simple, rhyming text and full-page illustrations in acrylic and collage, this picture book introduces dramatic facts about more than 20 different fishes—from the mudskipper, which uses its front fins like little legs, and the swordfish, which kills other fish by using its long, sharp bill like a sword, to remoras, which attach themselves to a whale shark by suction disks on their heads, then hitch a ride and feed on the shark’s leftovers. Young children will enjoy pointing out the various fish in the illustrations, while older ones will switch back and forth from the pictures to the fascinating biological facts about fish behavior, habitat, and camouflage gathered in notes at the back. An exciting way to prepare kids for a visit to the aquarium. Preschool-Grade 3. --Hazel Rochman

Review

"Every turn of the page reveals vivid paintings of exotic as well as common underwater creatures to delight all ages. If the paintings are the feast, Stockdale's words are the dessert." The Washington Post

"With creativity and accuracy unusual for an early primary book, this volume has earned an NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for 2009 designation." National Science Teachers Association

"Stockdale uses simple rhymes and clear, colorful acrylic artwork to introduce the fascinating underwater world of fishes. This introduction will pique children's curiosity and should find a home in most libraries." School Library Journal 

"An exciting way to prepare kids for a visit to the aquarium." Booklist  

"The bold colors and engaging rhymes of Fabulous Fishes will make a big splash with youngsters. Share this book with little ones before a trip to the aquarium, and have fun finding some of the shiny, spiny and spotted fish mentioned." Washington Parent 

Fish of all sorts tropical and freshwater, smooth and spiky, large and small, schooled and solitary, easy-to-spot and camouflaged dive and swim through this likable, resonant rhyme that emphasizes outstanding features of each species. ( Round fish, clownfish, fish that like to hide. Striped fish, spiked fish, fish that leap and glide. ) Youngsters will tap their toes to the rhythm as they are simultaneously presented with a great variety of fish and tickled by the unexpected aspects and behavioral characteristics of each type ( fish that flash their lights, fish with tails curled tight, fish that hitch a ride, fish that ride the tide ). Bold, graphic illustrations rendered in colorful acrylic portray each fish realistically. Each picture also contains relevant visual details from that particular fish s immediate environment. An excellent teaching tool and an appealing introduction to the wide world of fish. Includes an informative note for easy identification of each species pictured, as well as a brief bibliography for beginning researchers. (Picture book. 2-6) --Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156145429X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561454297
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Stockdale is a noted author and illustrator of a number of children's picture books, including Bring On the Birds and Fabulous Fishes. Her books celebrate nature with grace and cleverness and have won awards from Parents' Choice, the National Science Teachers Association, the Smithsonian Institution and Bank Street College of Education.

Her engaging rhymes and artwork elicit praise. The Washington Post exclaimed, "If the paintings are the feast, Stockdale's words are the dessert." Her illustrations have been twice selected for the Society of Illustrators "Original Art Exhibition" in New York City. Her most recent book, Bring On the Birds, has been nominated as a 2011 ALA Notable Children's Book. Visit her website at www.susanstockdale.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous is only one of many words to describe this marvelous voyage around the world to visit the oceans' fish!, December 30, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fabulous Fishes (Hardcover)

A round discus fish gracefully glides through some reeds. Three colorful clownfish tuck themselves in and around some "poisonous tentacles of sea anemones." Their unusual skin protects them from the poison. If you could go beneath the ocean waters around the world, you would be able to see many fabulous fishes. Some are not as easy to spot as others. The giant kelpfish of the Eastern Pacific Ocean camouflages itself in kelp. The long nosed buttery fish searches the coral to find its meal and the unusual porcupine-fish puffs up to ward off its enemies.

"Sand fish,
land fish,
fish that flash their lights.
Speckled fish,
spotted fish,
fish with tails curled tight."

There are many fish to ooh and ah over whenever and wherever you can find them. In the pages of this book they hide, swim and ride the waves through these pages. You'll get to see the flying fish "burst up out of the water," the garden eel will hide, and the mudskipper will "skip along the muddy shore and even climb trees. You'll get a glimpse at lanternfishes, hatchetfishes, the steelhead rainbow trout, the bluespotted stingray and will be wowed by the seahorse. Sardines, lionfish, remoras, flounders, catfish, California grunions, bluestriped snappers, swordfish and the clown triggerfish will round out the tour.

Fabulous is only one of many words to describe this marvelous voyage around the world to visit the oceans' fish. One of the most striking things was the very colorful, vivid illustrations of each fish. The rhyming scheme, which will appeal to the younger reader, doesn't miss a beat. I can't say that I had a favorite fish because so many of the portraits were so lovely. In the back of the book there are thumbnails of each fish with brief, but detailed information and additional recommended book resources. This book can be a stepping stone to further research for a report or simply a fun, informative read!