Skyfishing

March 1, 2017
A grandfather moves in with his children in a city apartment and, with the help of his granddaughter, finds a new way to continue his passion.Through fall and winter, building models or playing chess cannot really engage Grandpa, an avid angler at heart. Spring arrives, and his granddaughter, the narrator, initiates a pretend fishing game perched from their fire escape above the busy city street. They wait for a catch with poles, lines, and hooks. At first nothing happens, but their patience prevails as they reel in a piece of plastic they imagine to be a "flying litterfish." The possibilities for skyfishing take off from there as the clutter of an urban sea produces flower pots, wind "chimefish," and socks on a line--or "laundry eels." But the biggest fish of all in their imagination rumbles deep below on the tracks. The steady narrative blends with whimsical paintings that transform the everyday congestion of a crowded metropolis into fantastical sea creatures. An ocean of aqua and blues across the bottom of the page parallels the dull browns and grays of high-rises and apartment buildings across the top. Fishing aficionados will enjoy the endpapers with accurate pen-and-ink drawings of real fish as well as childlike figures of the "fish" in the story. Grandpa and the narrator are white, and the city's denizens are vibrantly diverse. A sweet tale of how the power of play helps an elder adjust to a new life. (Picture book. 4-6)

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April 1, 2017
PreS-Gr 2-A depressed grandpa, newly moved to a city apartment, discovers skyfishing with his fresh-faced granddaughter as they reel in city objects from their balcony. As the story progresses, the city below transitions into a coral reef. A run-in with the Troublefish (police car) has the expedition screeching to a halt-but Grandpa's ready to engage with the world again. The digital illustrations, heavy with brushstroke texture, are bright, and the fanciful underwater creatures, such as a Songfish (saxophone), Yellow-stripers (taxis), and Hammerheads (construction supplies), will delight young readers. However, a snoozing man (a Mexican Capfish) whose sombrero is stolen off his head is problematic. The characters' ethnicities are not made explicit, but the granddaughter is pale-skinned and dark-haired, and the people represent the diversity of New York City. VERDICT A magical picture book that sweetly portrays intergenerational love and imagination; great for sharing one-on-one or with a small group. A strong addition.-Lisa Nowlain, Nevada County Community Library, CA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
A girl and her fisherman grandfather, who has just moved to the city from the countryside, use their imaginations to "fish" off the fire escape. They catch "Green Danglers" (houseplants) and "Laundry Eels" (socks) before setting their sights on the elusive, underground-dwelling "biggest fish" (the subway). Bernatene's imaginative waterlogged cityscapes play along with the fantasy in this warm and humorous story of intergenerational companionship.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)