The Little Red Fish
PreSchool-Grade 2–From the moment readers encounter this book, they know that they've found something different. Rather than having a dust jacket, it is bound in bright red fabric, with the title and author embossed in black print and a small illustration centered on the cover. Inside, detailed hand-colored etchings match well with the quiet, mysterious story that unfolds. For the first time ever, JeJe is allowed to go to the library located deep inside the forest with his grandfather, the librarian. The boy takes his little red fish with him. He falls asleep and when he awakes, he notices that his companion has disappeared. Catching a glimpse of its tail, he follows it to an old red volume and when he opens the book, something magical happens. A wordless spread shows several fish spewing out of the tome. Seeing his pet still inside, JeJe reaches for it and falls into the pages. After several adventures–portrayed through illustrations only–he returns to the room with his fish in hand. He places the volume back on the shelf, hoping to visit another day. The boy's fantastical experiences will resonate with readers. The characters and setting are depicted in sepia tones; only the fish and the book are in eye-catching red. Due to its small size and the delicate nature of the artwork, this offering would work best for individual reading or one-on-one sharing.–Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.