Title: The Magic Fish

Author: Freya Littledale

Illustrations: Winslow Pinney Pels

Genre: Folktale

Summary: This is a wonderful book with enchanting pictures about how selfishness and wanting too much will never bring any happiness. The story tells about a humble and easy-going fisherman who has a selfish and dominating wife. When the fisherman catches a magic fish and respectfully puts him back after hearing from the fish that he is magic, the grateful fish grants the fisherman wishes. The fisherman doesn’t wish for himself, but instead for his insatiable wife, who is simply not satisfied after each increasingly more elaborate gift from the fish. At the end, the couple loses everything, because the fish has finally gotten angry by the wife’s endless demands.

Characters: The characters are well-developed, even though the book is short. The fisherman is sweet, meek and satisfied with little, the fish is good but just and the wife is selfish and satisfied with nothing for long. The moral of how greed is never something that brings happiness resounds from this beautiful little book. Adult and child alike will enjoy and get something out of it.

Grade Level: This book is appropriate for children ages 5-8. The text has repetition and would be good reading for a first and beginning second grader. The story will also be enjoyed by a group of children who are being read to. It is a delightful addition for any classroom.