The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Fleming, Candace

Papa's Mechanical Fish

40 pp. | Farrar/Ferguson | June, 2013 | Trade ISBN 978-0-374-39908-5 $16.99

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. In this "almost true" story, narrator Virena's eccentric papa is indefatigable; unfortunately, none of his inventions quite works. Then, thanks to Virena, he latches onto a big idea: "an underwater vessel...a mechanical fish." The submarine is (eventually) a success--and the family goes along for the ride. Fleming's telling is lively and humorous; illustrator Kulikov adds his own imaginative spin. Bib.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013