Papa's Mechanical Fish

May 6, 2013
This quirky tale—based on actual, less whimsical events of the 19th century—profiles a would-be inventor and his indulgent family. Out fishing one day, daughter and narrator Virena happens to ask, “Papa... have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a fish?” “Uh-oh,” interjects Virena’s prescient baby sister, as their inspired father races for his workshop. To a refrain of “Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirrrr!” Papa sets to building a series of submarines, which he tests in Lake Michigan. Kulikov (Max’s Castle) pictures Papa’s wishful blueprints, optimistic dives, and soggy results; Fleming (Oh, No!) matches the outcomes to revealing remarks from the family, from Virena’s speculative, “Papa, how do fish stay dry?” to Mama’s, “I’m so glad I brought along this life preserver.” Gigantic orange fish and sturgeons observe and seem to aid in the experiments, and the family’s French bulldog glances at readers in comic disbelief. Fleming developed this tale from the real-life story of 1850s inventor Lodner Phillips and a submarine dubbed the Fool Killer; thanks to a bibliography, readers can research this oddball narrative alongside another daredevil history, Queen of the Falls. Ages 4–8.

May 1, 2013
Young Virena, one of four children, provides inspiration for her aspiring inventor papa's latest ambitious construction: a submarine. Fleming bases her tale on the true story of Civil War-era inventor Lodner Phillips, who tried his hand at submarine design on the shores of Lake Michigan. In Fleming's lively, enthusiastic account, Papa builds three increasingly large and more complicated underwater vehicles, each of which sinks, with Papa emerging cheerfully, if damply, ready for the next round. As Virena muses on the nature of marine life, providing Papa with ideas for improvements, the baby interjects disarmingly funny comments: "No pee pee!" chortles the baby when Virena asks how fish stay dry. The Whitefish IV has room for everyone, and Papa puts his entire family into the contraption--somehow the cheerful presentation keeps readers from worrying about the outcome. Kulikov's expansive, comical illustrations offer exaggerated perspectives from above and below the deep blue-green water, huge and beautiful fish just under the surface and a loving family for the determined inventor. Blueprints for each version of the mechanical fish are included--a neat glimpse into the invention process--while the peculiarly human expressions on the family bulldog remind readers that this is a fantasy. An author's note and an extensive list of adult resources give background information about the real Lodner Phillips. A humorous tribute to the zany, determined and innovative side of invention. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from May 1, 2013

Gr 2-4-This picture book is a fictional account based on events in the life of eccentric inventor Lodner Phillips as told from the perspective of his daughter, Virena. Papa theorizes and tinkers but never succeeds. Finally, while the family is dropping lines from a pier into Lake Michigan, his daughter asks, "have you ever wondered what it's like to be a fish?" Immediately the man dashes back to his workshop and soon produces one of the world's earliest submarines, the Whitefish. Children will delight in the way Virena is the catalyst for her father's successive improvements to his primitive vessel as she continues to ask questions: about how fish move through water, stay dry, and know where they are going. Kulikov's luminous, playful, detailed illustrations on full-bleed spreads incorporate a variety of perspectives, including close-up views of fish and of Papa underwater and cutaway diagrams of his creations. An afterword is included. The exuberant and inquisitive tone of this book is sure to entertain curious children.-Anne Barreca, New York Public Library

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2013
Grades K-2 There's a rich history of batty inventor/tinkerer dads in children's books, and the girl narrator's father in this book could hang with the best of them. That he's based on a real mid-nineteenth-century person makes it all the better. Whether Papa's spectacular failures have been great ideas (steam-powered roller skates) or not-so-great (edible socks), not once has Papa invented anything that works perfectly. But inspiration flashes when the family is out fishing in the lakea mechanical fish. Iteration after iteration of his rudimentary submarine ends in lighthearted disaster, each time the object growing more complex and preposterous until he's finally come up with a vessel just crazy enough to work. Fleming festoons her glib narrative with read-aloud treats of Clacketa-claketa-clacketa! and Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirr! Meanwhile, Kulikov dishes out some tall-tale-worthy artwork and cut-out designs somewhere between Leonardo da Vinci and Rube Goldberg. A closing note talks about Fleming's inspiration, the inventor Lodner Phillips, who really did take his family for an underwater spin in Lake Michigan in 1851.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)