AUTHOR: Irish Beth Maddock
DATE: January 2015
PUBLISHER: Word Alive Press
STARS: *****
For siblings Beth and Paul, growing up on a lake and exploring the wonders of aquatic life is fun, until the children encounter a startling, “fishy” find along the shoreline. When the kids discover the mustached, scaly blue carp they found lives in the marsh near their home, they become afraid. Seasons pass and Beth and Paul avoid the swampy reeds at all costs–until a natural occurrence brings about a life-or-death situation for the creepy looking carp, right in their own backyard!
With guidance from their father, will Beth and Paul be able to overcome their apprehensions about the carp and help save them before it is too late?
What a sweet story! With wonderful illustrations by Lucent Ouano, Beth and Paul’s story of discovery and challenge is a delight to read. The author’s own childhood memory is the backdrop for this uplifting tale, and she brings it to life with lilting prose that carries readers to a satisfying end.
I was offered a pdf copy of this book in return for my honest opinion, and I was able to share it with my seven-year-old granddaughter who was visiting at the time. We agreed that it’s a wonderful story, and it earns five stars.