A Riddle of Eels by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Corey R. Tabor (Random House Studio, 48 pages, grades 1-5). In this nonfiction book about eels…or, wait a minute, is this a nonfiction book about eels? Eels are, to quote Winston Churchill (although he didn’t say it about eels), “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” For instance, did you know that no one has ever been able to figure out how eels reproduce? While scientist Johannes Schmidt discovered that eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea, to this day, no one has ever found a full-grown eel there. “We know so much about our world,” Day tells readers. “But sometimes there’s a crack in our wall of knowledge. And through it, we can catch a glimpse of the vast, wonderous world that’s still unknown to us.” So is this book about eels? Kind of. But it’s also about that world of wonder and all the unknowns that those slippery eels point to. Includes an author’s note about the disappearance of eels around the world and the importance of learning more about them to preserve them; also, a list of sources.
When you pick up a Nicholas Day book, the only certainty is that you can expect the unexpected. While readers will learn some things about eels by reading this book, they’ll also get their minds blown a little bit and their eyes opened to how much we still don’t know about the world we live in. I love that Corey R. Tabor did the illustrations, which add just the right amount of humor to complement Day’s slightly tongue-in-cheek writing style.
Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong (Orchard Books 48 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator describes taking his koi to their new home in a pond at the park. He wonders if they’ll be happy there, just like he’s wondering about himself as he and his dad get ready to move to a new place. When he thinks about the fish getting cold in the winter, the illustrations show him shopping for a new winter jacket. When he hopes that they’ll get along with the other fish, readers see him interacting with family at a farewell party. His dad reminds him that they’ll have each other to share memories, and the boy decides that he’s ready for his new home. Includes an author’s note about his own journey from Hong Kong to Canada at the age of 6, how he learned Chinese brush painting to create this book, and how the story is really about the uncertainties that come from making big changes in life. Also includes additional information about koi fish.
As someone who recently made a transition (I’ve changed jobs from a big urban elementary school to a small, rural junior/senior high school), this story really resonated with me and reminded me that uncertainty is a part of any new journey. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I’m sure it’s only Jack Wong’s Canadian residence that will keep this from being considered for a Caldecott.
