The Fish and the Cat

K-Gr 2—This wordless title starts with a fish quietly sitting in its bowl. That is, until the house cat disturbs it. Frantic, the red-scaled pet leaps out the window and flies away. From town to forest to starry sky, the black-and-white feline follows undeterred. Finally, the fish finds a place that the cat isn't willing to go. In peace, it splashes about, leaving its companion, who just had a big adventure. Even though the mundane gains a slightly fantastical edge in this story, the art style always sticks to the former, thus giving the impression that this is an everyday sort of experience. Dubuc's use of space to convey distance, tension, and control the reading pace is noteworthy. This humorous adventure may be straightforward, but there is just enough flexibility in the narrative to let a child's imagination take flight. Originally published under the title La Mer, this edition will make a wonderful addition to a collection's wordless selection.