This is a fun informative book that engages the reader through vivid pictures as well as rhyming. This book gives examples of many different fish and their characteristics. At the end of the book it gives detailed descriptions of each of the fish. This would be a great book to use for a science unit created around the ocean and the creatures that live there. Media: acrylic ( )

This book tells about different kinds of fish using rhyming and colorful pictures explaining what different fish look like and what different fish can do, but what brings all of the fish together is they all live in the water!

This book uses rhyming that will keep younger readers more interested, and the pictures are colorful and bright, but the author does not neglect to give information about each fish at the end of the book.

Primary
Non Fiction

A rhythmic, jazzy read telling about the fish and other creatures of the sea. The end tells about all the different sea creatures shown in the book in more depth than the story itself, so older and younger kids can access the content. ( )

This nonfiction picture book features beautifully layered color illustrations of nearly 30 fishes. Each page features a single fish with just a few words. The rhyming phrases are the glue that holds the anatomically, vibrantly true to life illustrations together.

I recently heard Stockdale speak at the American Library Association Conference and was impressed by her dedication to research and accuracy when creating her nonfiction books. Back matter includes thumbnails of each illustration with the name of the featured fish, what body of water they call home, and a brief sentence about their habits or attributes and a list of books for further reading. She spent many years working in textiles and her love of pattern and colors is apparent in her illustration style.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/07/book-192-fabulous-fishes-by-susan.ht...

Fabulous Fishes
by Susan Stockdale

With a simple, factual rhyming text and brightly colored, richly textured illustrations, author-illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readersin both pre-K and elementary grades to different kinds of fish and the underwater world they call home. From the spiky lionfish and the brightly colored clownfish to lanternfishes and hatchetfishes that flash lights so they can find each other in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, children will be fascinated by the breadth of sea life depicted.
.
In only a few large words per page, the book illustrates diversity and adaptations. Bold, colorful, fabulous fish are depicted in their natural habitats. To prepare teachers for the inevitable, excited questions that will follow a group reading, an afterward with thumbprint photos supplies additional information about each organism featured including which body of water they can be located. There is also a list of great books for further investigation.

This is a fantastic book to read before a field trip to an aquarium or to learn hand motions to pair with the catchy-rhyming words in the book. Students can learn the parts of a fish's body, how gills work, or how scientists classify fish. This book can also be used to talk about fish habitats and the way pollution may affect them.

Awards for this book include:

* Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association, 2009
* Science Books & Films Best Book for Children, 2008
* 2009 Baker's Dozen: The 13 Best Books for Family Literacy, Pennsylvania Center for the Book
* ReadBoston's Best Read Aloud Book Award finalist, 2009
* Cybils Award, the children's and young adult bloggers' literary award finalist, 2008
* Curators' Choice, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, 2008
* National Association for the Education of Young Children Recommends, 2008
* 28th Society of Illustrators "Original Art 2008 Exhibition" and the "Original Art 2008-2009 Traveling Exhibition" selection ( )