#blogbookaday: Whale In a Fishbowl
Summary: “A moving, poetic story about a whale in captivity who longs for the ocean… because whales don’t belong in fishbowls, do they?
Wednesday is a whale who lives in a fishbowl smack dab in the middle of a city–it’s the only home she’s ever known. Cars whizz around her and people hurry past; even the sun and moon circle above. But if she leaps high enough out of her bowl, Wednesday can see it: a calm bit of blue off in the distance. When a girl in a paisley dress tells Wednesday “You belong in the sea,” the whale starts to wonder, what is the sea? Readers will cheer–and get all choked up– when, one day, Wednesday leaps higher than ever before and sets in motion a breathtaking chain of events that will carry her to her rightful home. Touching, and ultimately uplifting, here is a story about a lonely creature longing to be free–and longing to find someone just like her.” (Taken from Goodreads)
Review: Wednesday the whale lived in the middle everything – people, cars, the city. But if she leaped high enough out of her fishbowl she could see a patch of blue, that for reasons unknown to her caused her heart to leap, until one day a little girl tells Wednesday she belongs in the sea. With one final leap and a gush of water, Wednesday finally reaches that patch of blue and she knows she is home.
Personal Reaction: I have a love-hate relationship with zoos and aquariums. I love observing these animals up close and I can understand the importance of keeping some in captivity for observation and to keep the species alive, but it breaks my heart to see animals that should have acres and miles of space reduced to these small cages and yards. Realistically, I know, that setting these animals free into the wild would prove more harm than good as most would never survive, but I can’t help but wish that wasn’t the case. I felt the same way about Wednesday and because it’s a picture book, I’m going to suspend my disbelief and hope that she is strong enough to make it in the wild.
Title: Whale In a Fishbowl
Author: Troy Howell
Illustrator: Richard Jones
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Publication Date: May 22, 2018
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!
