The Great Googly Moogly

PreS-Gr 2—Stella reads about the Great Googly Moogly—a giant fish with terrible jaws and yellow eyes—and dreams of catching it. Every day she goes to the dock, throws out her line, and waits. Young readers can see what the child can't—the body of the great fish swimming unobserved under the dock. Then one day, as she rests in her small boat, the head of the great creature appears out of the water. Surprise is mutual. "AAAH!" says Stella, and "Eeeee!" says the fish. The fish's kind eyes are reassuring, so together they go down into the deep water among the seaweed and starfish. When they surface, the world looks different to Stella. The watercolor illustrations and cartoon style are just right for this sunny tale of a persistent little girl who realizes this legendary creature does not belong to her. Knowing she never has to catch another fish, she can move on to other adventures. The simple text makes this a good choice for beginning readers, and humorous details in the artwork will bring smiles. Stella's room is an eye-catching display of fish—on the wallpaper, the lampshade, her blanket, and even her stuffed toy. Colors are bright and bold, from the child's red polka-dot boots and orange hat, to the blobs of vibrant colors on the fish's back. A solid choice.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN