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In 1999, 53 percent of children ages 3 to 5 were read to daily by a family member, the same as in 1993 after increasin... More
Summary: Charlie may not have the fanciest boat. The C-Worthy is a little leaky. He may not have much luck as a fisherman. He only catches the "little ones." But he knows he is the smartest fisherman. So when Roger announces a fishing contest, Charlie is determined to win! At the sound of "go" he heads to his secret hiding spot to catch the biggest fish. Luck! A blue marlin bites! For two hours Charlie has been working to reel him in. Can he do it? This is a fishing tale with life lessons for children.
Type of Reading: bedtime story, family reading, anytime reading, read aloud book, middle grade reader
Recommended Age: read together: 6 to 10; read yourself: 8 to 12
Interest Level: 6 to 10
Age of Child: Shared with a 6-year-old girl.
Little Kid Reaction: Our child liked this book. Because of the amount of text, we split it up over two readings. She particularly loved participating in the story ... as a boat engine, rocking on the boat, etc.
Big Kid Reaction: This is a fun story to read. You find yourself routing for Charlie right away! Although the book isn't divided into chapters, it is easy to parse if you want or need to. The lesson about winning ... and carefully reading the rules should not be missed!
Pros: The story is one that kids (even non-fisherman) can appreciate. The author's style makes it easy to create an interactive tale.
Cons: None.
Borrow or Buy: Borrow, at least. This is a story that pre-readers will enjoy hearing. Elementary students (pre-readers and skilled readers alike) will also enjoy the story and may well appreciate the subtleties more.
Educational Themes: Although this is largely meant to be a story for recreational reading, there are still themes and topics to draw from the tale: perseverence and self respect; problem solving and planning; winning and abiding by the rule; and appearance v. substance (vacation boaters v. true-blue fisherman).
Literary Categories: Fiction - adventure
Date(s) Reviewed: December 2007
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