The Only Fish in the Sea

by Philip C Stead (Author) Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)

The Only Fish in the Sea
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Sadie, Stead and Cordell's take-charge protagonist from "Special Delivery, " is back, and this time she's building an elaborate and foolproof plan to save a poor discarded goldfish. Full color.
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Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
Readers who are looking for more moxie in their lives will love this absurd adventure.

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
This is comforting fare for children, especially those who themselves have been cast adrift, and sensitive readers in more secure situations may even spare some sympathy for Little Amy.

None

Throughout, Cordell's style is reminiscent of Quentin Blake's work, with comically perilous seafaring scenes that recall the Miss Armitage picture books. Meanwhile, Stead's text contains echoes of Dahl's writing, with moments of dark humor, a satisfying comeuppance for Little Amy Scott, and a surfeit of heart in the child heroes' rescue of lost Ellsworth.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Sadie, the inimitable hero of Special Delivery, has returned. Her arrow-straight sense of justice sends her in search of a birthday goldfish that Little Amy Scott has thrown into the sea, plastic bag and all. Sadie's friend Sherman and the hilarious gang of monkeys from Special Delivery sprint to keep up as Sadie borrows a boat, plots a route, and sets off; her supreme confidence delivers them to precisely the right spot in the ocean, and Ellsworth ("Every fish deserves a proper name," Sadie declares) is rescued in the nick of time. The monkeys' mayhem is beautifully choreographed, Sherman is promoted to a full-fledged character, and Sadie's obliviousness to nautical danger provides a keen sense of fun. (A fine Cordell split screen shows Sadie pouring Sherman a civilized cup of tea as a sperm whale threatens to upend the craft from below.) Stead never takes Sadie's campaign for virtue too seriously, yet her shining sense of justice lingers long after the silliness subsides. Ages 3-6. Author's agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. Illustrator's agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Aug.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 2--With comic urgency, a boy races on his bicycle to tell his friend Sadie the story of spoiled Little Amy Scott, who declared that her birthday goldfish was BORING and walked across town to unceremoniously throw it off the dock. The boy, Sherman, asks Sadie if she could imagine that poor fish, still in its bag and floating away, bringing the prologue to an end and spurring Sadie into action. She names the fish Ellsworth, plots a course, and gathers fishing gear, weather-appropriate clothes, a bucket of paint, and 21 pink balloons. A half-dozen monkeys join the kids on their journey as crewmen, adding to the zaniness established by the loose pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations. Readers will admire Sadie's unflappable, no-nonsense response to the dangers at sea, though this is just one of the many gloriously funny details. VERDICT A contemporary tall tale fueled by the characters' genuine caring and heart. Best read one-on-one to feast on the clever cartoon artwork.--Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 

Philip C Stead
Philip Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal-winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead. Together with Erin, he also created Bear Has a Story to Tell, an E.B. White Read-Aloud Award honor book. Philip, also an artist, has written and illustrated several of his own books. He lives with Erin, their daughter, and their dog in a 100-year-old barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781626722828
Lexile Measure
540
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Roaring Brook Press
Publication date
August 20, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV002100 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Fishes
JUV002190 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Pets
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV017100 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Birthdays
Library of Congress categories
Fishes
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship
Animal rescue
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Emotions &
Goldfish
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Fishes

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