  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 02/15/2018 Vacations are great for everyone—even goldfish. Three siblings and their three pet goldfish settle in for a boring summer in the city. Then, something exciting: they learn that the old, broken-down fountain on the end of their block is being restored, and it needs goldfish for the summer. The kids can’t wait to send their fish on a vacation—and they aren’t the only ones. The simply named central children (H, Little O, and Baby Em) and their commanding goldfish (Barracuda, Fiss, and Patch) dominate Espinosa’s bright pages, active even while they wait. When joyful crowds gather at the fountain with their fish, each child expresses unique excitement and body movements. In giving their goldfish a vacation, the siblings find an adventure of their own: visits to the fountain result in lots of interaction with others. Based on true events in New York City, this would pair well with Ted Staunton’s Harry and Clare’s Amazing Staycation (2017). - Copyright 2018 Booklist. School Library Journal - 03/01/2018 PreS-Gr 2—This satisfying tale, based on true events, is about three children, three goldfish, and their summer adventures. An unused fountain in New York City, which had been neglected for many years, is suddenly cleared of garbage and spruced up. One June day, the children see a posted sign: "Coming in Two Weeks! Calling All Goldfish Looking for a Summer Home." The fountain is now ready to offer goldfish, donated temporarily by neighborhood children, a chance to enjoy a vacation, to mingle with their own kind, and swim outside the confines of a fish bowl. The three youngsters—H., Little O, and Baby Em—with assistance from a volunteer overseeing the project, deposit their fish—Barracuda, Patch, and Fiss—in the fountain as do other "goldfish parents." What had been an area eyesore becomes a place for neighbors to gather and children to play while visiting their pets. The illustrations, done in pencil and Adobe Photoshop, have a clean, uncluttered appeal with plenty of white space as background. VERDICT This cheerful and charming tale is a great selection for one-on-one sharing and for vacation-themed storytime.—Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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