Goldfish on Vacation

February 19, 2018
Lloyd-Jones (His Royal Highness, King Baby) takes inspiration from the charming true story of a New York City fountain that became a summer “retreat” for goldfish for more than a decade. After three children find a sign on a derelict fountain—“Coming in Two Weeks! Calling All Goldfish Looking for a Summer Home”—they run home to share the news with their grandfather and three fish. When the day finally arrives, the once-forlorn fountain has been transformed into a locus for neighborhood children who while away the summer playing and listening to Grandpa’s yarns of times past. Anxious readers may wonder how the kids will reclaim their own fish, and at summer’s end the children remark how different their pets look. “Of course!” says Grandpa. “That’s what a vacation will do for you!” Nostalgia infuses Lloyd-Jones’s tale of childhood summer innocence and Espinosa’s retro digital illustrations. His New York City, with its diverse community of residents set against a graphic cityscape, recalls the work of M. Sasek. A closing note details the fountain’s real-life history. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown.

March 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-This satisfying tale, based on true events, is about three children, three goldfish, and their summer adventures. An unused fountain in New York City, which had been neglected for many years, is suddenly cleared of garbage and spruced up. One June day, the children see a posted sign: "Coming in Two Weeks! Calling All Goldfish Looking for a Summer Home." The fountain is now ready to offer goldfish, donated temporarily by neighborhood children, a chance to enjoy a vacation, to mingle with their own kind, and swim outside the confines of a fish bowl. The three youngsters-H., Little O, and Baby Em-with assistance from a volunteer overseeing the project, deposit their fish-Barracuda, Patch, and Fiss-in the fountain as do other "goldfish parents." What had been an area eyesore becomes a place for neighbors to gather and children to play while visiting their pets. The illustrations, done in pencil and Adobe Photoshop, have a clean, uncluttered appeal with plenty of white space as background. VERDICT This cheerful and charming tale is a great selection for one-on-one sharing and for vacation-themed storytime.-Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2018
Where do fish go during vacations?It seems as though it's going to be an ordinary summer for three white children (named H, Little O, and Baby Em), their grandfather, and their goldfish (named Barracuda, Patch, and Fiss)--until a sign appears outside an abandoned nearby fountain that changes everything. "COMING IN TWO WEEKS! CALLING ALL GOLDFISH LOOKING FOR A SUMMER HOME," it says. Soon a man comes to clean and landscape the fountain, and not long after that, it's time for the neighborhood children to drop off their fishy charges! Clear, jovial text and appealing, retro-styled illustrations rendered in pencil and Photoshop portray a diverse New York neighborhood full of youngsters, many of whom spend a summer eagerly visiting their pets and listening to Grandpa's stories of summers past. Before the kids know, it, summer has ended, and it's time to find their fish (Are they sure they have the right ones? Grandpa seems to know...), and the adventure is over until next year. "Anyway, who says you have to leave the city to have a vacation?" asks Grandpa. An author's note reveals that for 13 years many of New York City's goldfish actually went on vacation in Hamilton Fountain before its 2009 restoration.A charming, gently humorous, accessible story based on a real-life occurrence that's sure to capture the imaginations of young readers and listeners alike. (Picture book. 3-6)

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February 15, 2018
Preschool-G Vacations are great for everyoneeven goldfish. Three siblings and their three pet goldfish settle in for a boring summer in the city. Then, something exciting: they learn that the old, broken-down fountain on the end of their block is being restored, and it needs goldfish for the summer. The kids can't wait to send their fish on a vacationand they aren't the only ones. The simply named central children (H, Little O, and Baby Em) and their commanding goldfish (Barracuda, Fiss, and Patch) dominate Espinosa's bright pages, active even while they wait. When joyful crowds gather at the fountain with their fish, each child expresses unique excitement and body movements. In giving their goldfish a vacation, the siblings find an adventure of their own: visits to the fountain result in lots of interaction with others. Based on true events in New York City, this would pair well with Ted Staunton's Harry and Clare's Amazing Staycation (2017).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)