This latest in the Gus series follows the eponymous, imaginative little boy as he turns his bathtub into a pond and himself into a fish by the simple act of placing his head underwater. Gus encounters the pond’s flora and fauna, including a duckling whom he swims with, a pike whom he must escape from and the reeds where he plays and hides. His mother’s voice abruptly brings Gus back to the bathtub. Tallec’s mixed-media illustrations combine acrylics and actual photographs of the capitalized words in the text (“fish and water words” that are described in more detail, and at a higher reading level, in the backmatter). The result is a rather odd hodgepodge that may have limited appeal. What will delight readers is the fact that many of the things Gus sees on his adventure have a basis in his tub reality and can be spotted around its rim. Would that every child have as wonderful an imagination as Gus, who in the meantime can serve as their role model. (Picture book. 3-7)
