Review - A Fish Named Glub

A Fish Named Glub
by Dan Bar-el
illustrated by Josée Bisaillon
Date: 2014
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this lyrical story about friendship and the power of dreams, a small and ordinary fish named Glub asks himself the big questions in life as he observes life in the diner beyond his fishbowl. Who am I? Where do I belong? The lively characters around him provide unexpected answers, but soon it’s Glub who reveals answers to their questions — and their hearts’ true desires. The small and ordinary fish discovers that life can be extraordinary. You just have to ask...

(synopsis from Goodreads)

What the actual...?!

Okay, look, picture-book writers. Sometimes you might feel like getting all philosophical, or even turning that weird pepperoni-spurred dream into a picture book. Here's some advice: Don't. If you do, you might end up publishing something like A Fish Named Glub and people will start to question your sanity (and/or possible drug use).

The book uses too many unfamiliar words for something aimed at children. ("Dekes"? Really? My spellchecker doesn't even like that one as I'm typing it.) There are too many idioms and metaphors. And the whole plot point with the fish being able to generate visual representations of others' dreams with an electric current when they stick their fingers in the bowl? Um... what on Earth was the author smoking?

This is just too weird. The illustrations aren't all that appealing, either... but my opinion may have been coloured by the absolutely ridiculous story and pretentious writing.

If this had been published as an adult title, it might've worked. But I really can't see kids liking this one. It's just too weird.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.33 out of 5