Life in a fishbowl

Quote of the day:

"A book is like a piece of rope; it takes on meaning only in connection with things it holds together."

                                                - Norman Cousins

Title:  A Fish Named Glub

Author:  Dan Bar-el

Illustrator:  Josee Bisaillon

Ages:  4-8

This book is all about friendship and the magical gift one little fish, named Glub, has to inspire and encourage people to live out their dreams.  The setting is a small diner where ordinary people, employees and patrons alike, go about their mundane life, but buried deep inside of each of them they carry a dream of what if.....? 

On the counter is a little fish in a fishbowl who is asking the big questions of life. Who am I?  Where did I come from? Where do I belong? You see he was rescued from his original owner who skipped out of the upstairs apartment late at night and abandoned him.  He ended up on the counter of this diner and as he observes and listens he acquires a name, Glub.  He finds out he is all alone in his world,  that he needs food and water to survive, and what a real home is all about, "Home is where the heart lives." 

The characters are enthralled with Glub and he brings them happiness and joy. He is a wonderful new dimension added to their dull routine life offering them hope to make their dreams become a reality.     Is everyone destined to just carry on and robotically, day after day sleep-walk throughout?  What will happen to Glub?  Will the characters finally cast their fate to the wind and pursue their dreams that are hidden deep within them? There is a pleasant surprise at the end of the book and the look of libration and freedom on their faces says it all and quite frankly ends the story perfectly.   

The illustrations are cartoonish and enrich the lyrical prose.   The soft watercolours and bold images will be a hit for sure with the younger readers.  This book may ignite the conversation of discussing  dreams and heart's desires with each other and that can only be a good thing enabling you to set yourself free to be the real you, the one you were created to be!!!

*  This book will be released on April 1, 2014.


About the author:

Biography

Dan Bar-el is an award-winning children's author, a storyteller and educator who lives in Vancouver, Canada. His books for young readers are downright funny; sometimes satirical, sometimes absurd and always enjoyable for adults too. Look for a more lyrical and dreamy reading experience in his new picture books "Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been?" and "Dream Boats".

When not at home writing, Dan merrily travels around the country visiting schools and libraries. Learn dubious facts about him on the web at www.danbar-el.com or follow him on Facebook at: Dan Bar-el - Children's Book Author. 

About the illustrator:

Josée Bisaillon was born in 1982 in St-Hyacinthe, Canada. Little girl, she loved to draw cats
and houses. She also cut out everything made of paper she could find around her.

After studies in computer graphics, she obtained a bachelor’s dregree in graphic design in 2005. This is where she fell in love with illustration.

Josée won many awards such as Applied Arts, LUX, American Illustration and Society of Illustrator. She was also shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Awards in 2008 and 2010.

Josée lives in a nice little house in the suburbs of Montreal with her husband and their three charming children. She still loves drawing cats and cutting out everything made of paper she can find.

                             Book Review Rating:  8  (Fantastic!)

Read on and read always!  Your day awaits...dream on!!!