Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell - ESSENTIAL

Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell, illustrated by Richard Jones. PICTURE BOOK. Schwartz & Wade Books (Random House), 2018. $18. 9781524715182.

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL(K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Wednesday the Whale lives in a fishbowl in the middle of a city. Its the only place she has ever known and while life is fine, she occasionally catches sight of a bit of blue when she leaps high out of her fishbowl. The blue draws her in a way she can't explain. With the encouragement of a little girl, Wednesday finally leaps high enough to find her way out to sea and a home where she really belongs.

I really loved this story. Its simple, heartwarming, and has a beautiful ending. The illustrations--and especially the blue grey color palate--have a great artistic flair but perhaps will not be immediately appealing to young audiences. I imagine there are a lot of ways to use this book--the animal rights idea of whales belonging in the sea, the impact of one child on somebody's life, Wednesday taking charge and making a difference in her own life, etc. I also think it could be a great pick as a gift book to adults in your life who understand homesickness to any degree. It is an overall delightful book and one I will recommend highly to family and friends.

Reviewer: TC