September 26, 2022
“If only Fish were a teddy bear,” Bear repeatedly thinks to herself upon returning home from the fair, having won a goldfish rather than the hoped-for plush teddy. The narrow-minded protagonist fixates on what seem to her like insurmountable differences. While Bear sees herself as “big,” Fish is so small that she lives in a bowl; Bear likes to eat food that’s golden, like Bear is, but doesn’t have anything orange to give Fish. But Fish, bespectacled and bookish, exudes confidence, and when Bear declares that things aren’t working out, the aquatic roomie persuades her to alter her perspective about their compatibility and to broaden her sense of self. Na’s digital artwork aptly supplies iridescent landscapes representative of Nickel’s emphasis on perspective-shifting. An honest and encouraging tribute to the way companionship can emerge in unexpected forms. Ages 4–8.
September 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 At the carnival, big Bear hopes to win an enormous teddy bear. Instead, she takes home a little fish in a bowl. Fish tries to converse with Bear, but Bear, afraid that her booming voice will frighten Fish, says nothing. Bear eats lunch; not knowing what to prepare, she makes nothing for Fish. "If only Fish were a teddy bear," she thinks, she would know what to do. After taking a lonely walk, she decides to return the little fish to the fair. She breaks the news to Fish, who counters Bear's arguments by pointing out what they have in common, providing new perspectives on supposed problems, and concluding that Fish should stay. The expressive, stylized art makes excellent use of color, and, like the well-worded narrative, it contrasts the small but confident fish with the large yet tentative bear. While both characters are endearing, kids will particularly appreciate Fish's observation that "no matter how small we might be on the outside, we can still be big on the inside." Fun for reading aloud.
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July 15, 2022
An initially disappointing carnival prize turns out to be more rewarding than it seems. Bear has her heart set on winning the biggest teddy bear at the fair, but instead she wins a fish--a fish "so small it lived in a bowl." Bear reluctantly takes home her prize, but her sadness keeps her from seeing Fish's potential for companionship. Bear goes on a walk alone and returns to tell the fish it cannot stay--their first real conversation. Fish counters every one of Bear's arguments, and finally Bear sets off on another walk--this time, holding the fishbowl. Fish is orange, with red spectacles, a stack of books, a bed, and a plant; Bear is brown (some readers may be confused when she refers to herself as gold, but Fish clears up the discrepancy later) and walks upright. Gently rounded, softly colored hills, clouds, and trees, depicted with a grayish blue tinge, lend an underwater feeling to Bear's world, subtly linking it to Fish's bowl. Bear and Fish are sometimes big on the page, sometimes small, reinforcing the importance of perspective in this lovely, gently humorous story of the friendship that grows between different creatures when they accept each other for who they are. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A delightful tale of unexpected friendship. (Picture book. 3-7)
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