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Overview
Popular author Patricia Hubbell's writing exudes charm and whimsy in her many picture books. Papa Fish's Lullaby is no exception! A busy day in an underwater world comes to a close as Papa Fish sings his Little Fish to sleep. Our little fish encounters humpback whales, green sea turtles, sea horses, sea lions, sea otters, dolphins, moon jellies, octopus, geese and gulls. Gorgeous anemones, urchins, algae and coral set the stage. Eaddy's meticulous research on species and region give this book the strength of nonfiction reference, while her soothing images provide the softness and comfort of a bedtime story. Ms. Hubbell's perfectly cadenced rhymes will be swimming in readers' heads long after the book has been closed for the night.
Synopsis
Popular author Patricia Hubbell's writing exudes charm and whimsy in her many picture books. Papa Fish's Lullaby is no exception! A busy day in an underwater world comes to a close as Papa Fish sings his Little Fish to sleep. Our little fish encounters humpback whales, green sea turtles, sea horses, sea lions, sea otters, dolphins, moon jellies, octopus, geese and gulls. Gorgeous anemones, urchins, algae and coral set the stage. Eaddy's meticulous research on species and region give this book the strength of nonfiction reference, while her soothing images provide the softness and comfort of a bedtime story. Ms. Hubbell's perfectly cadenced rhymes will be swimming in readers' heads long after the book has been closed for the night.
Children's Literature
Papa Fish swims through the ocean, calling out to his child to let him know that it's time to come home for bed: "Little fish, brave in the sea, swish your tail, swim home to me." A series of short couplets traces Papa Fish's journey through the twilight sea, as he passes other creatures, from baby seals and sea otters to humpback whales and moon jellies. The text ends with a single, unrhymed line as Papa Fish's child comes swimming home: "Rest, my little fish, rest." The singsongy verses are fairly predictable, and the text also includes somewhat problematic references to wild geese—something Papa Fish almost certainly wouldn't have knowledge of. What does make the book worthwhile, though, are Susan Eaddy's three-dimensional clay sculpture illustrations. Her work lends depth and color to the sea creatures that Papa Fish passes and provides realistic texture to the plants, rocks, and coral that make up his underwater world.