This has been on my reading book pile for such a long time I'm ashamed to say. Bought it at the wonderful Forum Books Kids Bookshop in Corbridge with the lovely reading Hinchcliffe family in the Easter holidays. As I was choosing it the author came into the bookshop at the same time-a lovely bit of serendipity. Then travelled home, other books took over but sub consciously think I was saving it for a holiday read and I was right to do so as it's started the holidays with that reading joy you get from a jolly good read.
The language, the characters, the context is all so cannily written it feels 'just right' throughout. It's very touching and human. A great book for 9+ it's really worth a read for anybody at all. If you were using it as a class reader there's a mighty lot of issues you could discuss from the book none of which are forced. This is about a family, friends and coping-life really and the way we get through it together if we're lucky.
Billy sees his life through his hero David Attenborough so events in his world have an Attenborough commentary alongside. He's a real water baby-the sea is where he feels at home. This is where the sprinkle of magic comes in...he is swimming one day when a little fish swims up to him and calls him 'FISH BOY'. From then on he is drawn in to an underwater world of family too.
It's such a thoughtful book, the words on the page are there to be enjoyed and really felt-it is a touching read. I read it over two days and couldn't put it down - felt drawn in to Billy's surface world and underwater family world.
The illustrations by Richard Jones really add to the feel of the book and there is a very handy 'fish speak' page at the end too if you were worried you don't know fish so can't read this book....
YOU REALLY MUST - you will know fish by the end of it, I can guarantee it and you will get that heart warming glow you get when you've read something special and spot on.
The language, the characters, the context is all so cannily written it feels 'just right' throughout. It's very touching and human. A great book for 9+ it's really worth a read for anybody at all. If you were using it as a class reader there's a mighty lot of issues you could discuss from the book none of which are forced. This is about a family, friends and coping-life really and the way we get through it together if we're lucky.
Billy sees his life through his hero David Attenborough so events in his world have an Attenborough commentary alongside. He's a real water baby-the sea is where he feels at home. This is where the sprinkle of magic comes in...he is swimming one day when a little fish swims up to him and calls him 'FISH BOY'. From then on he is drawn in to an underwater world of family too.
It's such a thoughtful book, the words on the page are there to be enjoyed and really felt-it is a touching read. I read it over two days and couldn't put it down - felt drawn in to Billy's surface world and underwater family world.
The illustrations by Richard Jones really add to the feel of the book and there is a very handy 'fish speak' page at the end too if you were worried you don't know fish so can't read this book....
YOU REALLY MUST - you will know fish by the end of it, I can guarantee it and you will get that heart warming glow you get when you've read something special and spot on.
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