Title: A Fishy Tale
Author: Annie Ward
Illustrations: Thea Ward
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-5144-9822-4
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 36
Reviewed by: Kimberly Goldstein
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
The husband and wife team of Annie and Thea Ward took a story recited to their three daughters when they were young; as Annie set the words to verse while Thea created beautiful illustrations. The result of their labor of love is the creation of an illustrated children’s book titled A Fishy Tale. It is more than a family heirloom to their daughters, but rather a gift to all to enjoy and bring into their own families.
The story which was told many times by the father to his daughters was put to verse and begins when the 3 sisters wake up early at a beach house during a vacation. As their parents are sleeping, they mischievously run down to the water to play on the cool morning sand by the surf. There they come across a beautiful fish in a bucket – looking very frightened and sad. So the girls make a plan to help the fish escape, and as they carry the fish to the sea the fisherman sees them. Well, after a moment of excitement the poor fish is tossed into the water when after a tail wag of thanks it swims off to freedom. The girls run home.
The story pages beautifully with the pictures embellishing the words, creating a peaceful and fun story. Readers will instantly be drawn into the theme of the book and children will enjoy every page. The book moves quickly and carries a kindness within the galley text and perfectly appropriate pictures making this an example of a wordsmithing and artfully talented synergy of efforts. There even is a moral at the end – which comes at a surprise! When the fisherman realizes he was upset with the actions of the children, he realizes there is something about the younger generation as to how they have a kinder and different outlook to other living things – one which we all can learn to appreciate.
A Fishy Tale is a gift from the Ward family to yours. A timeless story of childhood antics, resulting in the preservation of the life of a fish which was drawn so beautifully nobody would ever want to simply eat it on a dinner plate. It is much better to have this fish live forever in the minds of children everywhere growing up.
