Children’s Book Review: A Fish Named Glub
A fish named Glub swims in a bowl in a diner. Left behind by a tenant upstairs, Glub considers life’s questions. “Who am I?” he wonders, “What do I do?”
Slowly, day by day, as customers ask about Glub and make their own observations, he considers, agrees, and worries along with them, establishing that, at least, he can make bubbles: “I am Glub, Master of Bubbles.” Foster, the diner’s cook, whispers his secrets to him and they both feel lonely together.
Suddenly, by touching the water, people start seeing their dreams in Glub’s bubbles – glimpses of loved ones they miss, memories of long-forgotten ambitions. Then Foster, a young customer he admires, and her fatherless daughter all touch the water together and dreams come true for each of them–and for Glub.
Josee Bisaillon uses mixed media collage, incorporating black outlines and soft shades. From her bird’s eye view of the diner with its beige floor tiles and green counter, to the fishbowl view of a hand reaching for the startled Glub, her illustrations are at once whimsical and strong. Foster’s big glasses mirror Glub’s huge and wondering eyes as the kindred spirits share their loneliness and find their dreams.
With delightful touches of humour and playful use of repetition, Dan Bar-el has written a beautifully poetic story. This charming and surprisingly moving tale will enchant young readers and older ones.
Gillian O’Reilly is the editor of Canadian Children’s Book News, the author of Slangalicious: Where We Got That Crazy Lingo and co-author of The Great Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising Places.
The National Reading Campaign publishes children’s book reviews under a Creative Commons License. This review is entirely free to reproduce and republish online and in print. Credit must be given to the reviewer and the National Reading Campaign. Reviews can be edited for brevity only. Contact Us for more information.
Comments