msgabbythelibrarian's review
1.0
I tried with this book.
Yes it is tongue in cheek. The ending you think Gilbert is going to get eaten but he doesn't. Yet, I don't know, I still did not like the book. I don't think kids will fully wrap their heads around it.
Yes it is tongue in cheek. The ending you think Gilbert is going to get eaten but he doesn't. Yet, I don't know, I still did not like the book. I don't think kids will fully wrap their heads around it.
shighley's review
5.0
I'm on a Kelly DiPucchio marathon in advance of meeting her this weekend. It's amazing how many gifted illustrators she has worked with! This does have Bob Shea written all over it. I do imagine what sense of other organisms fish would have. The ending is a bit of planned surprise.
itchyfingers's review
5.0
Nice story to introduce pets to children. A story about a goldfish who has everything in the world but wants a pet. He isn't sure which is the right pet for him, so he keeps searching till he finds the right one.
beecheralyson's review
4.0
Gilbert wants a pet. Of course as a goldfish he has certain needs and limitations. Just when he thinks he has found a pet, he then discovers it won't work. Love the very cute twist at the end.
readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
Cute story! Gilbert the goldfish desperately wants a pet, and he's having a tough time deciding what kind - should it be small? big? have feathers? fur? As different pets come to visit him, Gilbert tries them out but it's never quite the right "fit"! My favorite is what happens to the fly that comes by! Any guesses??? There is a surprise ending that had even me making an incorrect inference :)
emdoux's review
4.0
Gilbert Goldfish would really like to have a pet of his own, despite all the wonderful things he has in his fishbowl - a magnificent castle, yummy flakes that fall from the sky, and even a treasure chest! Gilbert often thinks about what his pet might be like - would it be big, or small? Would it be loud, or quiet? Then one morning, Gilbert wakes up to find a dog outside his fishbowl! Finally - a pet for him to love and care about. But it turns out that a dog isn't really the perfect pet for Gilbert... and the mouse figures out that Gilbert is not cheese, so Mouse is not a good pet either (nor is Fly). Will Gilbert ever find a pet of his very own?
I really like Bob Shea's illustrations, so this book already was in my good graces. I was pretty sad when Gilbert's fly got splatted - but overall, I really liked this book because of its odd little creativity of a pet fish looking for a pet that would be outside his bowl, like a kid wanting a pet fish that would be outside his world, in a bowl. (I also just like goldfish picture books).
I really like Bob Shea's illustrations, so this book already was in my good graces. I was pretty sad when Gilbert's fly got splatted - but overall, I really liked this book because of its odd little creativity of a pet fish looking for a pet that would be outside his bowl, like a kid wanting a pet fish that would be outside his world, in a bowl. (I also just like goldfish picture books).
libraryjen's review
4.0
Who can't relate to the frustration inherent in finding the perfect pet? With great illustrations, funny moments, and some suspense at the end, this is a great preschool story time read!