A review by amybergeron
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom

2.0

I wanted to like this book, but it reads quite a lot like a passion project. It combines odd elements that make it hard to recommend for any age - the sung refrain is a common element in stories for younger children, whereas the length of the book and the school scenario suggest an older reader, as one example. The metaphor of magical creatures could have been much more effective in a shorter book where the message is more subtle; children respond well to symbolic stories, and this gives caregivers the opportunity to discuss and interpret together, which is a valuable part of early literacy. Rewriting it happening at a local park could have worked very well. Overall this book was a nice idea but it feels poorly researched for the target audience, which is also not well defined. This creates a somewhat tedious, complicated story. Not Quite Narwhal and Jamie Is Jamie would be good alternatives for families who want to explore non binary themes.