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Big Al and Shrimpy

Name: Big Al and Shrimpy
Author: Andrew Clements
ISBN: 9781416903666

by Andrew Clements, Yoshi Kogo

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Overview

Poor Shrimpy! He may be the smartest fish in the sea, but he's also the smallest. Who would want to be friends with such a teeny, tiny fish? Big Al, that's who! Big Al remembers what it feels like to to be an outsider, and he and Shrimpy become best friends. And when Big Al finds himself in danger, it's Shrimpy's smart thinking that saves the day — and wins Shrimpy the respect and affection of other fish.

Shrimpy learns that even though he may be small, he can still make a big difference to his friend, Big Al.

Synopsis

Publishers Weekly

About the Author, Andrew Clements

Andrew Clements is the author of the enormously popular FRINDLE. He has been nominated for a multitude of state awards and has won the Christopher Award and an Edgar Award. His popular works include EXTRA CREDIT, LOST AND FOUND, NO TALKING, ROOM ONE, LUNCH MONEY, A WEEK IN THE WOODS, THE JACKET, THE SCHOOL STORY, THE JANITOR'S BOY, THE LANDRY NEWS, THE REPORT CARD AND THE LAST HOLIDAY CONCERT. Mr. Clements taught in the public schools near Chicago for seven years before moving East to begin a career in publishing and writing. He lives with his wife in central Massachusetts and has four grown children. His website is andrewclements.com.

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Editorials

From the Publisher

School Library Journal There is magnificence to Yoshi's work that matches Clements' international story of friendship.

Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Shrimpy becomes friendly with Big Al after playing tag, and the larger fish helps him do things he could never do on his own. One day, Big Al's fin gets stuck in a crack in a rock, and it's clever Shrimpy who comes up with a plan to save him. The story is enhanced by the lovely underwater scenes, which are done in embroidery, paint, and batik on silk. Yoshi pays good attention to detail; when the text indicates that 3 groups of 10 fish help Big Al, readers see 30 fish doing just that. When the author states that Shrimpy could fly through the water faster than ever before, the illustration shows him clinging to one of Big Al's fins as they swim along. Occasionally, the dark text requires good lighting to see clearly as it is on top of darker coloring, and the text is occasionally a bit choppy. Where needed, add this title to the list of books available on differences and those that show how size doesn't matter.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Clements gives the ugly-but-brave hero of Big Al (1990) a tiny-but-clever buddy in this companion volume. While the other fish play tag, Big Al and his diminutive new friend venture to the edge of the dark, scary Big Deep. When a rock traps Big Al and carries him over that edge, it's up to Shrimpy to organize a rescue. Just as Clements's new text echoes his previous one in tone and construction, so Yoshi again uses paint, batik, and embroidery to create blue-lit, deeply shadowed seascapes, populated by brightly colored tropical fish and flora. How Shrimpy persuades the other fish to follow him down into the Big Deep is never made clear, so the episode's internal logic isn't quite as watertight as that in Leo Lionni's Swimmy (1966)-still, it's good to see Big Al back, and children are always receptive to the idea that size isn't everything. (Picture book. 4-8)