| Fish Finelli: Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles (series #1) |
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What You Need to Know:
• When Fish Finelli stands up to a local bully, he finds himself agreeing to a bet that seems sure to leave him on the
losing end.
• The story takes place in a town near the water, and Fish is a big fan of boating.
• While the main characters are male, both boys and girls should enjoy this book.
• This book is the first in the series. The second title, Operation Fireball, is expected in spring 2014.
• Click through to find a great reading guide for Fish Finelli.
• Illustrated non-fiction sidebars are sprinkled throughout the pages.
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Sweet Book Summary:
Looking for some good old-fashioned fun? You'll find it in Fish Finelli: Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles. The story is about 10-year-old Norman (known to everyone as Fish) and his two best friends, T.J. and Roger. These kids don't play video games, carry cell phones or even use computers. Fish actually uses a card catalog! The boys are goofy and adventurous, and they always have each other's backs. Sure, they have a few quirks - Roger is on a mission to torment his older sister, Summer, with wacky pranks and T.J. is a bit obsessed with sweet treats (how can we complain about that?) - but that's what makes them so much fun!
Fish has a mission of his own too. He wants to buy a Seagull (not the bird, but a motor boat engine) so that he can compete in the Captain Kidd Classic, the biggest boat race of the summer. He gets a bit sidetracked, though, when the town bully, Bryce, challenges him to a bet in which he may lose the money he's been saving for that engine. If Fish and his friends can't come up with Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and it seems pretty likely that they won't since people have been searching for hundreds of years, Fish will owe Bryce $50. It takes some clever thinking, a little sneaking around, and a bit of luck, but the boys work together and make some big discoveries.
While their task may be a bit unrealistic and the results somewhat farfetched, readers who can go with the flow, will enjoy the ride as they get to know Fish, T.J. and Roger. The characters are welcoming, their adventures are exciting and they have their fair share of gross out moments with burps, poop and giant bugs. The facts, historical details and trivia shared in the sidebars are a welcome addition to the story. |
Author: E.S. Farber Illustrator: Jason Beene Published: 2013, 184 pages
Themes: Books for Boys, Character/Values, Friendship, Mystery |
Sweet Discussion Questions:
• Would you want to be friends with Fish, Roger and T.J.? Why or why not?
• How would you describe their friendship?
• Why does Fish get into a contest with Bryce?
• Why is Bryce so mean to Fish and his friends?
• How do you think Fish does in terms of handling Bryce's taunts?
• Do you know anyone who acts the way Bryce does? What do you think is the best way to handle that type of person?
• Did the boys make a good decision when they took the kayaks?
• What do you think will happen next for Fish and his friends?
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| This recommendation was written by: Melissa G. |
| Support Independent Book Shops: Click Here to Buy this Book on IndieBound |
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