Two fish in a bowl

BOOK REVIEW

TWO FISH IN A BOWL

Author: Claire Smedley From the reader report by: Laura McGloughlin

Two Fish in a Bowl/Dos peixets a la peixera by Claire Smedley is a charming picture book aimed at the 3-5 market. It’s a rhyming bilingual story in English and Catalan that tells the tale of two very different fish and the race between them around their fish bowl. They set off at top speed, so fast that they actually fly out the top of the bowl, and once they return, tired, they stop for tea and a snack. But after eating they realise the race is still on and both aim to win. However, they cross the finish line at the same time, and the book ends with them going home, tired but happy.

It’s a simple, sweet story told in catchy rhymes in both English and Catalan (beautifully rendered in Catalan by Bel Olid), but the illustrations make it special. Illustrations can make or break a picture book, and luckily here they strengthen the story on every page. The contrast between the orange fish and the green fish is vivid, and delicate, dreamy watercolours infuse the pages. As the race continues through the waving algae the increasing scope of the illustrations make the fishbowl seem vast, and give the race an epic quality.

…with such universal charm and appeal, it’s easy to imagine this book being read aloud to children (voices and all), so I’d recommend it to Anglophone publisher.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS UK

OBRADOR EDITORIAL

Title TWO FISH IN A BOWL DOS PEIXETS A LA PEIXERA

Author Claire Smedley Genre Children and Youth Pages 28

ISBN 978-84-94933-48-6 Year of publication 2019 Number of editions 1 Language Catalán Spanish retail price 13.00 €

Author’s biography: Claire Smedley (Forres, Scotland) lives in Montgat (Barcelona) and writes about finance, her two Russian tortoises, Txomin and Arthur. She also writes books for children including several published in Spain and Brazil. www.clairesmedley.com

Synopsis: This is a story about two little fish in a fishbowl who, one day, decide to have a race. The fish tell us the story of what happens next playing with the musicality born of a fusion of rhymes in English and Catalan accompanied by delicate watercolour illustrations.

Publisher: Obrador Editorial Obrador Editorial was born of the desire to publish work, both written and illustrated, in Catalan and Spanish, that will open doors to new literary worlds. We don’t believe in labels, but we do defend genres; we want to explore their limits, overcome them, and mix things up.

Publishing rights available from: Obrador Edtorial S.L. - CIF B67179259 Calàbria 199 Local 2, Barcelona, Barcelona www.obradoreditorial.com Contact: Mireia Broca [obradoreditorial@gmail.com] [info@obradoredotorial.com] Phone: (+34) 931 620 467

Comments: The illustrator is Eva Santana who is famous for her L’Oriol Pelacanyes series.