Title: How Grandpa Tata Caught a Ginormous Fish without a Hook
Author: Dhan Reddy
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-53200-752-1
Genre: Children’s Book
Pages: 60
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
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Ginormous is a word which was made from two words – Gigantic and Enormous. It is exactly the correct adjective to describe just how big the fish caught by Grandpa Tata were in this delightful children’s story titled, How Grandpa Tata Caught a Ginormous Fish without a Hook by author Dhan Reddy.
I immediately was attracted to this book by the illustration on the cover – a line drawing, similar to how coloring books depict people and things, yet superimposed were photo images of crayons resulting is a Trompe-l’œil artist style. Then upon paging the book, the generous use of one-sentence-per-page- spacing gave the read a pace which slowed down the story for young minds to absorb all of the words. The illustrations contained within the book were appropriate to reinforce a story-board presentation, and certainly not over used. Then, of course, the picture of the ginormous fish was a much awaited not-so-surprise ending, captivating once again, the imagination of the children reading or being read this book.

This is an excellent marriage of story and illustrations. The mid-eastern names of the characters and images of turban clad headdress gave the fanciful story an exotic location and culture. The kindness of the family made for a sense of comfort to the people’s action. Even when Grandpa Tata and his Grandson Dinesh went out on the boat to catch the fish, they brought with them a piglet to be used as bait, which they didn’t harm, bringing it back to its mother. They just squeezed it a bit so it squealed, that’s ok.
How Grandpa Tata Caught a Ginormous Fish without a Hook is a story children will want to be read over and over at bedtime as it possesses the elements of a well-written and beautifully crafted children’s book. It would make an ideal gift for any toddler, and become a favorite with a family library for future generations to also enjoy. Who knows, it even may inspire children to use a new method of fishing when they grow up? Piglet fishing.
