Let's Go Fishing! A Parent & Child Fishing Adventure and Guide (Adventures with Jonny)
PreSchool-Grade 2–Less than half of this volume is devoted to the story of an early-morning fishing outing. Jonny enjoys watching wildlife and interacting with his father. He even manages to catch a bass, which they release back into the lake. The unpunctuated lines of verse drag at times, and the cartoon illustrations aim to amuse viewers more than to depict nature. However, this forgettable story is followed by a clear and thorough fishing guide directed at parents. DiLorenzo offers basic information on safety, licenses, and equipment. He explains how to assemble a rig, cast, and land a fish. He suggests ways to combat boredom and make the trip enjoyable for everyone. Among the ideas is a game incorporating the illustrations and descriptions of 10 freshwater fish. Even the artwork is better in the guide section than in Jonnys story. One bothersome aspect is the unspoken assumption that men and boys are the only ones who fish. Usually the author refers to adult and child, but anglers are invariably fishermen. None of the illustrations includes a female. Still, adults searching for basic knowledge and encouragement about how to take children fishing will find the guide section useful even if the reading of Jonnys adventure is decidedly optional.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, MankatoCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.