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I USED TO BE A FISH

Name: I USED TO BE A FISH
Author: Tom Sullivan
ISBN: 978-0-06-245198-9

by Tom Sullivan ; illustrated by Tom Sullivan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 11, 2016

While the book is visually appealing, the plot is very thin and not likely to inspire demands for rereading.

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Fed up with the aquatic life, a fish ventures onto land, spawning eons of evolutionary change.

Bold, striking illustrations—black permanent marker outlines on a plain white background with solid blocks of red and blue—adorn this fanciful tale. As the now-amphibious creature becomes a reptile and then a mammal, it survives the events that kill off the dinosaurs, turns into a primate, walks upright, and finally becomes a white-skinned, red-haired, bearded man. Next come hunting, cave painting, and building structures of increasing complexity. The story ends with a small, white-skinned, red-haired boy dreaming of someday flying, superhero fashion. A timeline and author’s note provide additional information on the science of evolution written at a level far more advanced than the rest of the text. Evolution is, of course, a very complex topic, and Sullivan clarifies that he has written “a fictional story inspired by the science of evolution.” Young readers will get a general sense of the overall development of life forms over time and may be prompted to consider the abilities or characteristics they would like to develop if only wishing could make it so. Due to Sullivan’s choice of palette and style, they will miss the fact of Homo sapiens’ African origins.

While the book is visually appealing, the plot is very thin and not likely to inspire demands for rereading. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-245198-9

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- BOOK REVIEW
ESCAPE AT 10,000 FEET
by Tom Sullivan ; illustrated by Tom Sullivan

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OUT THERE
by Tom Sullivan ; illustrated by Tom Sullivan

- BOOK REVIEW
BLUE VS. YELLOW
by Tom Sullivan ; illustrated by Tom Sullivan

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IS IT CHRISTMAS YET?

by Jane Chapman ; illustrated by Jane Chapman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2013

A story with a youngster getting ready for Christmas with just his dad should be a welcome choice for single fathers to...

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A little bear named Teddy gets ready for Christmas with his father, Big Bear, in this decidedly cheerful British import.

Teddy is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Christmas, asking his father endless questions in the manner of little ones everywhere. Father and son work together to wrap presents, bake a cake and search for a Christmas tree. The tree that Teddy chooses is too large to fit through the doors of their house, and when they bring it through the window, the top of the tree snaps off. Teddy dissolves into tears at the accident, but father and son work together to repair the damage and decorate the tree for Christmas Eve. A joyful concluding spread shows the bear pair on Christmas morning, sprawled under their tree, eating cake and candy and enjoying their unwrapped gifts. The text is aggressively jolly, with sound effects and key words and phrases set in display type and lots of exclamation marks. But Chapman’s large-format illustrations are appealing, with plenty of humor and motion, and her bears are amusing—especially Teddy, who really does look like a teddy bear come to life.

A story with a youngster getting ready for Christmas with just his dad should be a welcome choice for single fathers to share with their children. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-58925-149-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2013

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
BEAR FEELS SAD
by Karma Wilson ; illustrated by Jane Chapman

- BOOK REVIEW
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement C. Moore ; illustrated by Jane Chapman

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LITTLEST CHRISTMAS TREE
by Jane Chapman ; illustrated by Jane Chapman

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THE FRIEND SHIP

by Kat Yeh ; illustrated by Chuck Groenink ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 6, 2016

A sweet, simple story with a nicely offbeat heroine.

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All the animals are welcome to come aboard.

Hedgehog seems very lonely, “curled up in a prickly little ball in a lonely little nook of a lonely little tree.” When she overhears a sympathetic conversation about friendship “out there,” she perks up, picturing a beautiful “Friend Ship.” Hedgehog sets sail with a curious beaver in a small boat to find it. Before long, the duo spots a herd of migrating deer on the shore. Hedgehog asks if they’ve seen the Friend Ship; all reply that they could use a friend and hop aboard. Next, the company spies a rat, who asks to join them. They sail in multiple directions to no avail. Hedgehog begins to lose hope, but her companions convince her to persist. She spots a small island, its only resident an elephant. Hedgehog swims the distance and asks the elephant about the Friend Ship. The elephant points at Hedgehog’s small boat full of animals and asks, “Isn’t that it—right over there?” It’s a lightning-bolt moment. Hedgehog invites the elephant aboard, and they sail west, celebrating all the while…into the sunset together. Yeh makes effective use of dialogue and repetition, investing her characters with personality with just a few lines. Groenink employs sunny, warm hues that increase in saturation as the boat fills and Hedgehog becomes surrounded by friends.

A sweet, simple story with a nicely offbeat heroine. (Picture book. 3-6)