Genres
Description
The adventures of a goldfish who just died.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
40 p.; 8.35 inches
Publication
Roaring Brook Press (2017), 40 pages
Pages
40
ISBN
1626725071 / 9781626725072
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User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Born on the surface of a little boy's fishbowl, the eponymous ghostly goldfish in this darkly humorous tale floats out the window and wanders around the seaside town in which he finds himself. Looking for companionship, he instead discovers that either he is overlooked, as is the case with the
I'm not sure what it says about me, but I found it absolutely hilarious that the goldfish ghost is depicted upside down throughout the entire book, no doubt the result of the fact that he was "born" (as a ghost) when he went belly up in real life. Lisa Brown's artwork here captures the sardonic humor of the text perfectly, while the final portion of the story, in which our piscine hero finally finds a companion, offers a sweetly satisfying conclusion. Recommended to all Lemony Snicket fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books featuring an offbeat sense of humor!
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local people, or out of place, in the case of the ghostly sea creatures he encounters. Will the goldfish ever find a place he belongs...?I'm not sure what it says about me, but I found it absolutely hilarious that the goldfish ghost is depicted upside down throughout the entire book, no doubt the result of the fact that he was "born" (as a ghost) when he went belly up in real life. Lisa Brown's artwork here captures the sardonic humor of the text perfectly, while the final portion of the story, in which our piscine hero finally finds a companion, offers a sweetly satisfying conclusion. Recommended to all Lemony Snicket fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books featuring an offbeat sense of humor!
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LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
The ghost of a goldfish is tired of staring up at the ceiling of the boy's room in which he lives. He floats out the window to the ocean, the beach, etc. in search of some good company. He is almost defeated until at last he hears a voice calling to him...
This book is quirky and a bit dark, very
The illustrations (incidentally, these are done by the author's spouse) are fittingly fun in a dark way. The muted color palette is quite nice, although occasionally the text is difficult to read on some backgrounds. Small details (like bookshelves sporting such titles as One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Moby Dick) are probably more humorous to adults, but some children might enjoy as well.
Even though this is a picture book, with the dead main character, dark humor, and deeper message, I think this book would be best for upper elementary school-age children.
This book is quirky and a bit dark, very
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much like everything written by Snicket. The overall message about finding the *right* friend (and not just any old person who happens to be nearby) is a positive one. The fact that it takes the goldfish ghost a while to find that person can be encouraging for kids having trouble fitting in with their peers.The illustrations (incidentally, these are done by the author's spouse) are fittingly fun in a dark way. The muted color palette is quite nice, although occasionally the text is difficult to read on some backgrounds. Small details (like bookshelves sporting such titles as One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Moby Dick) are probably more humorous to adults, but some children might enjoy as well.
Even though this is a picture book, with the dead main character, dark humor, and deeper message, I think this book would be best for upper elementary school-age children.
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