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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mythic Lessons from Beneath the Sea, July 12, 2008
This review is from: Fire Fish (Invisible Tails) (Hardcover)
FIRE FISH is an elegantly illustrated tale of creatures beneath the sea, full of adventure, suspense, wit, will, and faith in higher things. It is a book created for children ages 9 - 12, but it also is an art book that will satisfy both younger and older children and adults. Writer/illustrator Davy Liu is the guide through this enchanted story and wisely summarizes the mission of the book by posing a question on the back cover: 'What if our world is just a mere reflection of the invisible reality?' There are meanings beyond the apparent tale of little fish searching for the mystery of the Fire Fish, becoming lost in the vastness of the ocean only to be befriended by all manner of fellow aquarians, encountering evil in the form of the sharks and whales and holding onto a simple faith in the Finmaker who guides the story to a happy ending. The story is solid, the lessons are well defined, and the personalities of the various cast members of this tale are sensitively drawn. But the overwhelming aspect of this excellent book is the beauty of Davy Liu's art. His liquid medium of life within the water is at once realistic and impressionistic. After the first reading of the story, the reader will return to the pages to find 'secrets' within the shadows of the water, symbols that emerge to make the story one of a universal nature. This is fine addition to the library of excellent children's books and one that would seem in line for the Caldecott and Newbery Medal awards - among others. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, July 08
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The quality of the images overwhelms any reservations you may have about the religious aspects, July 1, 2008
This review is from: Fire Fish (Invisible Tails) (Hardcover)
The story is one with a religious theme, although the characters are the various creatures that inhabit oceans. The illustrations are superb and seemed right out of a Disney movie. Therefore, I was not surprised when I read the note about the author and discovered that he has worked on several animated Disney films. The main characters are three tiny fish (Sarai, RaaOn and Sesom) who wish to enter "The Bright Beyond." Their journey is fraught with danger, there are many large predators to fear and they have no foreknowledge of what they will face. There is also the legend of the Fire Fish, the masters of "The Bright Beyond." When they are attacked by Great White Sharks, Sesom puts his fins together and calls out "Oh, F-Finmaker, you helped us in the past, please put f-friendly fish on one side and enemy fish on the other!" With a great roar, the Big Blue parted and they were saved from certain death. When all the good creatures were safe, they bowed their heads and offered thanks to Finmaker and even asked to have food delivered to the Great White Sharks. As a story, this one will appeal to parents who want their children to be exposed to religious themes. However, the quality of the images will make it attractive to all children; they will spend a great deal of time absorbing all of the aspects of the pictures.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Children's Book for Christian Families, July 23, 2008
This review is from: Fire Fish (Invisible Tails) (Hardcover)
Younger readers should enjoy Davy Liu's "The Fire Fish," a Christian picture book for today's media-savvy kid. Author/artist Liu is a graduate of Disney and Lucasfilm, and it appears Darth Vader and the Mouse taught him well. This book has a straightforward story pitched at a good level for kids who have just started reading on their own. Its mixed-media illustrations are lush and lavish, creating a captivating visual world that kids and adults will both enjoy. And the religious message, about prayer and evangelism, will suit parents eager for an antidote to the selfish themes kids absorb in our harsh world. This is the second of Liu's Invisible Tails books, about animals who happen to be present at important Biblical events. The story centers on three orphaned baby river perch who make a pilgrimage to the Red Sea in search of their parents (never mind the marine biology, it's a good story). But the fishes' story repeatedly overlaps the story of Moses and the Exodus, including baby Moses in his basket of rushes and the parting of the waters. Along the way, the young fish learn first to pray in a selfless way, and then how to tell others about the power of prayer. The perches' progress is not without its problems. Hungry eels, fishing nets, and ravenous sharks appear with enough force to remind canny readers of the numerous symbols in the parables of Jesus. Because of the thematic sophistication of the story, this is the kind of book that is likely to grow with kids, reaching their reading needs at several different ages. Reading the book, I was reminded of the Bible-based Little Golden Books I used to read to my sister when we were small. In the same way, this book could easily coach young people in reading skill while instructing them in Christian virtue. And unlike the Little Golden Books' simple watercolor illustrations, which might seem kind of homely to kids raised up on CGI and IMAX, Liu's exceptionally vivid artwork will engage young people at a level they're accustomed to. I particularly commend the rich two-page seascape showing the gorgeous variations of sea life when the baby fish burst into the Red Sea, which they call the Big Blue. Davy Liu promises to be one of the rising new names in children's writing, and "Fire Fish" is the kind of book your kids will pass on to their own children. And thanks to the fun story and dazzling art, Mom and Dad won't want to be shy about reading over their kids' shoulders. This is a book that will be treasured in any Christian household.
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