There's a Dolphin in the Grand Canal [Hardcover]

John Bemelmans Marciano (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Nothing ever happens in Venice. At least that’s how Luca feels as he spends his summer vacation bored and unhappy in his family’s café. Then one day he spies something wonderful in the Grand Canal: a dolphin. Can it be? It is! Luca hops on the dolphin’s back and is treated to an unbelievable ride high above the Bridge of Sighs, past a surprised gondolier, and right over the heads of his disbelieving parents.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–Although this story takes place in Venice, all children will relate to the experience of the protagonist who has seen something incredible and is unable to convince his parents that he's telling the truth. Luca Buca helps his family at their caffè, even in the summer when his friends are all off on wonderful vacations. During his afternoon break, he sees a playful dolphin in the Grand Canal, but his parents are skeptical about this news. The animal emerges again, after they have gone about their business, and Luca is in for the time of his life: he sits astride the soaring creature, waving to sightseers (and ultimately Mamma and Papa) as he flies over gondolas, wash lines, and bridges. Marciano's watercolors, employing a variety of perspectives, capture the grandeur and diversity of Venetian architecture and the magical quality of the liquid streets. The adult figures have an Old World charm; the artist is less successful with the proportions and facial characteristics of the child. A glossary translates the Italian phrases spoken by Luca within the visuals and the comments in multiple languages uttered by tourists–a touch that adds humor and interest. An author's note distinguishes fact from fiction and explains the connection between the gondola's fin and dolphins. Both Italophiles and those being introduced to Venetian culture for the first time will enjoy this romp.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. Even in a wonderful city like Venice, a boy can get bored. There's nothing, however, like spotting a rare dolphin in the Grand Canal to liven things up, especially if it's doing a "reverse backflip with a corkscrew finish." Luca runs home to tell Mamma and Papa, but when they go to look, no dolphin appears. When the mammal does return, laughing "Enh-enh-enh!" Luca leans over and slips into the canal. The dolphin flips him up onto his back, and they fly through the city, even up and over the Bridge of Sighs. Children will relate to Luca's initial boredom, and to his frustration in not being believed by his parents, but this fluffy-light fantasy may appeal most to dolphin lovers. Plenty of lively but lackluster watercolor paintings convey a flavor of the city; however, while the book does discuss and display the layout of Venice's waterways, it never once mentions that Venice is in Italy. A glossary and an author's note conclude the book. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (June 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670059870
• ISBN-13: 978-0670059874
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,416,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Bemelmans Marciano is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the original Madeline books. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Kids Traveling to Italy, August 16, 2007

By 

S. wishom "cheekywish" (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There's a Dolphin in the Grand Canal (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my 3 year old daughter before our recent trip to Venice. I read it to her before we went and she enjoyed it. But, I must say it wasn't until after our trip that and she saw the sights in Venice that she was absolutely thrilled with it. This book is great! It gives you visuals of how Venice actually is. I know I will be reading this book to her for years to come. It will be a great way to rememmber our trip.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story with lovely pictures of Venice Italy, June 10, 2007

By 

Make it Funny (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: There's a Dolphin in the Grand Canal (Hardcover)

A short story about an Italian boy who befriended a Dolphin who took him for a ride around the Venetian Canals. Lovely drawings of Venice Landmarks. The story is funny for me and preschoolers and pre-k, probably for older kids too. I lent it to a friend who's a pre-k teacher and her class enjoyed it tremendously.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre at best, December 10, 2008

By 

Fry Boy (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: There's a Dolphin in the Grand Canal (Hardcover)

The pictures are well-drawn, but the story is somewhat predictable, which might be okay for a children's book. My main gripe, however, is that the author has the boy in the story say "stupid" and/or "dumb" when he refers to the dolphin. The book was published in 2005. Aren't we demanding better than that these days? Couldn't the author simply have substituted the word "silly"?