  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2018 PreS-Gr 1—In this beginning reader, two friends—Mike the elephant and Pat the fish—go on a boat ride together. While Mike naps, Pat sees other fish in the ocean, and jumps out of his bowl to join them for some fun. But the arrival of a shark makes for a little too much excitement, and Mike must jump in to save Pat. When Mike begins to run out of air, their new fish friends must help both Mike and Pat to the surface and, once back in the boat, conclude with a nap together. The author conveys so much action, excitement, and humor through the cartoon illustrations while keeping the text of the story simple enough for very beginning readers, who will more than likely want to revisit the story a second or third time. VERDICT This is a solid choice for those beginning to recognize sight words and visual clues. A winner for most easy reader collections.—Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 07/01/2018 Floating in a little boat, Mike (an elephant) naps while Pat (a goldfish in a bowl) looks down at the ocean and dives in to explore. She finds a cheerful world full of friendly fish and assorted sea creatures. When a shark appears, the animals scatter and hide, all except Pat, who ends up in its jaws. But wait! Feet first, Mike (an elephantine deus ex machina) descends, landing on the shark and freeing his friend. When the big fellow needs help getting off the ocean floor, little fish boost him toward the surface. Henry makes comedy look easy in this volume from the I Like to Read series. Printed in large type, the short, simple text uses repeated words effectively. Much of the book’s humor is visual, from the surprise of the elephant-versus-shark encounter to the improbable sight of the fish propelling Mike upward with bubbles. Created with ink, watercolor, gouache, and acrylic, the playful illustrations set the tone for the story of this funny book, which is sure to engage beginning readers. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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