Fish Wish [Hardcover]

Bob Barner (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

A young boy's dream sends him on an underwater journey through a coral reef. Includes factual information on coral reefs and the animals that live in them.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A trip to an aquarium leads a young boy to wonder, "If I were a fish-" and his imagination takes over. Barner's clever use of perspective shows the bright orange clownfish (the boy's alter ego) changing in size depending on which sea creatures are nearby. Readers can follow it through its colorful underwater world on a coral reef, swimming past dolphins, sea turtles, octopus, squid, jellyfish, sea horses, shrimps, crabs, sea anemone, and starfish. The rhythmic text expresses the action. Double-page spreads can easily be viewed from a distance. The clever, textured collage illustrations, made with commercial and handmade papers, foil, beads, ribbon, antique buttons, fabric, cork, and pastels, warrant a closer look. A diorama with a numbered key identifies the creatures of the reef, and a spread that includes brief facts about them and information about coral reefs is appended. This engaging picture book with its simple text and bright illustrations offers a creative introduction to the natural world of the sea.
Margaret Rhoades, Orange County Library System, Orlando, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A dazzling introduction to the creatures living in the increasingly threatened environment of a coral reef. ``If I were a fish,'' thinks a child who watches an orange clownfish and imagines himself becoming the fish, taking readers through the author's bright collages of handcrafted papers, buttons, foils, fabric, beads, and ribbons. Oversized type undulates through the ocean, describing dolphins above, sea turtles gliding by, an octopus flanked by a squid squirting ink, sea horses, shrimps, crabs, and a cloud of jellyfish. All leap out of the pages in startling colors. Night finds the clownfish tucked into the tentacles of a sea anemone and making a ``fish wish'' to welcome the scuba-geared child of the opening to its environment. The symbiotic relationship of clownfish to sea anemone is explained in notes in the back, along with interesting facts about the rest of these saltwater creatures. Other back matter includes a diorama with a key to its inhabitants and just enough information about coral reefs to whet young appetites. A fresh and appealing look at a fascinating environment. (Picture book/nonfiction. 3-5)-- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823414825
• ISBN-13: 978-0823414826
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wishing on Fishes, July 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fish Wish (Hardcover)

Colorful collages made from cloth, paper, buttons, seed beadsand tin foil decorate the pages of this simple story about a boys wishto be a fish. The book starts with, "If I were a fish..." and travels through the coral reef to show dolphins, jellyfish and sea anemone. The back of the book highlights and gives a brief background about each of the animals pictured. A beautiful book and a great learning tool.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for 3 months+, May 13, 2003

By 

Mark Janssen (Oak Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fish Wish (Hardcover)

We started reading this book to our son at 3 months and he's now a year old and he still likes reading it. It's bright colors
and clown fish make him very happy. Bab Barner's illustrations are set apart from many other childrens books. We love it at our house.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter's favorite book, December 11, 2001

By 

Ariel Pawlak (POMPANO BEACH, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fish Wish (Hardcover)

My daughter is 2 and a half and she asks me to read this book to her every day. She loves finding the orange fishy on each page as well as identifying all of his friends. How many 2 years old know what a sea anemone is? Well thanks to this book she does. I am sure that this book will be the foundation of a life long love of the ocean. I just hope that when she is grown there will be some coral reefs left for her to explore. On a quick side note, if your child likes this book try I Saw the Sea and the Sea Saw Me by Megan Montague Cash. The two books are great when read together and will give your child a real appreciation for the creatures that inhabit our oceans.