My Pet Goldfish

PreS-Gr 2–The curious journey of Richard the goldfish begins in the kitchen fish tank where he forms a charming bond with his human companion, following the boy’s fingers along the edge of the tank each day. Fortuitously, the boy’s neighbor Sandy also has goldfish as pets but Sandy’s are much larger and live in a pond. Sandy impresses the boy with goldfish facts and when the boy worries that Richard will outgrow his kitchen tank, Sandy offers his pond. Throughout the story, the peppering of little-known facts about this common childhood pet help to elevate this title. The mixed media illustrations of the goldfish and their aquatic environs are lively and ethereal, conveying a sense of drifting underwater movement. The frenetic linework and flat, doll-like eyes of their human counterparts seem mismatched with the beautifully rendered goldfish and plant life. Despite this, the book will be well-received by little ones who are interested in the care and keeping of goldfish.