Splotch - Hardcover

Marino, Gianna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0451469577 ISBN 13: 9780451469571

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2017

Synopsis

An unsuspecting boy, his dead pet fish, and his well-intentioned mother make this a must-read for fans of The Bear Ate Your Sandwich and I Want My Hat Back.

Splotch was meant to be in his bowl when his boy got home from school--but he isn't there! There's only one conclusion: he must have run away. But when he mysteriously returns, all is well again. Except...Splotch's distinctive spot has moved and the only explanation is that he has been CHANGED BY ALIENS! When the spot moves yet again, it's clear something fishy is going on. This hilarious story poses the question that, when it comes to this family, who is protecting whom?

Spot-on kid-humor and splashy illustrations are a signature of Gianna Marino's work. The perfect follow-up to I Am the Mountain Mouse and Night Animals, Splotch! will not disappoint!

About this title

About the Author:

Gianna Marino lives and works in Northern California, and loves to travel. She has a dog and a horse, but she prefers fish that live in large bodies of water.

For more about Gianna and her books, visit giannamarino.com.

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 2—When a young boy's pet goldfish dies, his mother secretly replaces it with a new one. The boy comes home to discover something amiss with his new fish. In an effort to comfort him, his mother secretly replaces the fish again. The boy is still not convinced that the new fish is his beloved Splotch. The mother and son travel to the pet store together and find the "missing" fish, but the boy reveals to readers that he thinks he's duped his mom, indicating that he probably knew the truth all along. The work is amusing, making light of a possibly upsetting scenario while simultaneously giving credit to the wit and cunning of children. This tale avoids the topic of loss and instead plays with the idea of pets, however small, having distinct personalities. The gouache and pencil illustrations are spot-on, giving all of the fish facial expressions and reinforcing the idea of individuality. The cat is a lovable, silent character, glancing knowingly throughout. The thoughts of the mom and boy are italicized, while dialogue is not, a small distinction that may be difficult for younger readers to grasp. VERDICT While the words are few and the illustrations bold, suitable for younger readers, the content and the story might work better with a slightly older audience, especially in terms of humor. A fun choice that would make a good addition to most collections.—Kaitlin Malixi, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA

About this edition

• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0451469577
• ISBN 13: 9780451469571
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40