Title: Zealy and Whubba Go Fishing (Book 3, Series 1)
Author: Roe De Pinto
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1-4787-7115-9
Pages: 48
Genre: Children’s Book

Reviewed by: Beth Adams

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In this book, Zealy and Whubba Go Fishing, the third of the series The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba, author and creator Roe De Pinto brings the story to a fun-filled frolic in the chilly waters off the Artic shores with her baby seal Zealy and her orca friend Whubba.

Zealy, having already learned how to swim now puts her newfound talent to finding food; enabling her to survive on her own. Whubba shows Zealy how to bump a fish then catch it in the mouth, however it wasn’t as easy as it looked. When Zealy tried, she had a bit of difficulty at first. But after a few attempts she got the hang of it, and began catching fish as easy as picking apples off a tree. This lead to a bounty of fish, more than both Zealy and Whubba could eat at their picnic on the sandy shore. So they brought the remainder of the fish to Zealy’s Mommy and Daddy as presents. All of these fanciful characters rejoiced knowing the newfound talent of Zealy, now having the capability of providing for herself, she can also bring in food for her family and friends.

This theme is of course an important lesson for toddlers going off to sleep. In her uniquely picturesque illustrative children’s book, Roe De Pinto instills the values of accomplishing a challenging task to reap the benefits of rewards, in this case fish to eat. As children read the clear and unassuming text on the galley’s printed pages, artist Robin Gulack’s illustrations gently imprints into the children’s developing minds sound values of achievement and generosity by using the cartoonish world of these playful sea creatures. What is indeed an epic storyline for tiny tots to read or have read to them, the masterful combination of words and drawings provide a subliminal world of comfort, peace, generosity and love.

As with her prior titles, Zealy and Whubba Go Fishing is a wonderful addition to any young family’s library. The entire series would make a wonderful sequence of presents, or given as a collection for a birthday or even a baby shower. The cardboard reinforced hardbound covers, along with the rugged construction, will enable these book to withstand the vigor of children’s page turning, while remaining intact for the next generation yet to come.

What’s on the horizon for Zealy and Whubba? Only time will tell.