Chip

PreS-Gr 3–What begins as a regular day takes a turn toward the unknown for young Atticus when he realizes that his pet fish, Chip, is gone. But Atticus does not understand exactly where Chip went or when he might return. Whether Chip is living in the sky, has simply moved on, or has gone to a better place, all Atticus knows is he wants his beloved friend back. And as the weeks pass, memories find their way to Atticus as he remembers the good times he and Chip shared together. This succinct story is very relevant to a contemporary audience, especially to children who are unfamiliar with the concept of death and are unprepared when a dear pet passes away. Humor is inserted as Atticus interprets the metaphorical words of his caregivers in a literal way, but at the core of this story is the absence Atticus feels in his heart when Chip is gone. Brief text and a limited color palette work together to describe Atticus’s loss in a visual way, while simultaneously making the book accessible to a wide range of young readers. Sweet and heartfelt, this tale will resonate with families and will invite conversation with every reading.