Do you have a fish tale? You know about catching the big one? Or perhaps you have heard one or two? Today we are sharing a picture book about a small girl and old woman and their big fish story! It took a lot of determination, friendship and fun. It is The Big One by Dashka Slater and illustrated by Myo Yim. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
A heartwarming picture book in which a small child and her tenacious nana work together to catch the biggest fish in the sea – only to realize that their sweet bait has lured in something much bigger.Marina was the smallest of the town’s children.
Nana was the oldest of the town’s elders.
But even the old and the small have dreams.
When word spreads around their small fishing town that the Big One is close to shore, Marina and Nana know that they will be the ones to catch the elusive and legendary fish. “When we catch the Big One,” says Nana, “we’ll need four hands to haul him in and two mouths to tell the story.”
They set out in a tiny boat with only grit, gumption, and a rose-ripe peach for bait. But the Big One doesn’t appear that day. Or the day after that. Each time, Marina listens carefully for the swish of the Big One’s tail, but each time there’s nary a nibble on their peach. Nana is certain they’ll catch him, but Marina isn’t so sure anymore. Then one morning, when the mist is so thick they can’t see a thing, something giant nudges the boat. What they find is something much bigger – and astounding – than they could have ever imagined!
Written by the bestselling author of The 57 Bus and the Escargot series, Dashka Slater, and beautifully illustrated by Myo Yim, this tale of adventure celebrates the spirit of perseverance and inspires both the young and the young-at-heart to keep fishing for their dreams.
From Me:
In this sweet story, the village hears the big one is nearby. All the fishermen want to catch the big one and head out. Nana and Marina also want to catch the big one. One of the fishermen tells Marina she and Nana may not have the grit and gumption to actually catch the big one. However, Marina and Nana have perseverance and sweet bait! Day after day they go out and try different fruit for bait, but the big one doesn't come. Then one day they get a bigger surprise than the big one--a whale! The whale is caught in all the fishing line that the villagers have dropped in the water. What are Marina and Nana to do? Well cut the lines and free the whale of course! The whale manages to do a tail flip and land fish in their boat! They can't wait to tell the tail to the villagers.
I love the tenacity of Marina and Nana. They see no signs of the big one but keep trying. The others doubt their abilities, but they keep trying. Then when they find a big one it is much bigger than they thought and needs help. The whale is huge and caught and scared. Marina and Nana get to work to free it, and the whale pays them back with a boat full of a great catch! Talk about a fish story! Together they tell their big one story when they return to the village! It is a book about determination, patience, and taking care of nature. This book is a fun one for the summer. It is great for a fishing trip or just a tale to read and talk about how wildlife needs our help to survive! It is also just a fun book about the underdog winning!
