School of Fish: Ready to Read Level One by Jane Yolen - ADVISABLE

School of Fish by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mike Moran. EARLY READER. Simon Spotlight (Simon & Schuster), 2019. $18. 9781534438897

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Told in the first person, with plenty of rhyming, this is the story of a little grey fish who is off to school. On the way he faces several fears and obstacles but he uses the mantra “Wait! Count to ten. Think about calm seas, and then…”

This is a lovely little story that reads well at an early first grade level. There is a good message about fears and friendship, but it isn’t heavy handed. So, while I imagine students will enjoy their first reading, I do not think that many readers will pick this up for a second reading, making the price tag a little steep.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher