I Used to be a Fish

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From debut author-illustrator Tom Sullivan comes a surprising and innovative picture book that is both a light introduction to the science of evolution and a tribute to every child's power to dream big.

In I Used to be a Fish, a boy is inspired by a pet fish and fueled by imagination to tell a whimsical version of his own life story, which mirrors the process of human evolution. Children--and adults--will love the Seussian absurdity of this tale.

The book features a timeline of life on earth and an author's note, which includes important facts about evolution.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Sullivan makes a strong debut with this clever, matter-of-fact, and much-needed look at humanity's origins. The narrator is a boy who nonchalantly conflates evolutionary biology with his own backstory. He starts with his beginnings in the sea (hence the title) before moving on to his sprouting appendages and fur, and his gradual transformation from tree-swinging primate (who resembles a svelter, furrier Homer Simpson) to modern-day metropolis-dweller and aspiring superhero. Natural selection is in evidence, but for the narrator, the big force propelling humans forward is boredom: "I got tired of swimming," he observes at the fish phase, and after he transitions from ape to man, "bananas just weren't cutting it anymore." Sullivan's vignettes have a laid-back earnestness, each one a minimalist, sketchlike cartoon, boldly outlined and employing only three colors-bright red, vivid cerulean, and crisp white. An afterword respectfully delves deeper into the science of it all, but irreverence rules the day, and Sullivan proves that, in this regard, he's a highly evolved talent. Ages 4-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-3-In this engaging introduction to the concept of evolution, an unseen narrator describes how he changed from fish to land animal and beyond, eventually becoming a modern boy at the end of the book. Simple, expressive cartoon drawings depict each stage with humor and purpose. Bold lines, plentiful white space, and careful use of just two colors provide clarity and focus throughout the progression. Bright red draws the eye to the featured animal on each page, even when it's only a beard or head of hair. The repeated dot-within-a-circle eyes and consistent composition also support the patterned continuity. The tone is lighthearted but not overdone, with humorous shifts of facial expressions and postures as the world changes with each page turn. When viewers meet the boy at the end, they also spot the pet fish that must have triggered his imaginative musings. Though clearly inspired by evolution, the fanciful story is not an attempt to accurately represent the scientific process, as an author's note confirms. The clever premise and well-conceived visual presentation provide a playful first step into an interesting but potentially daunting topic for younger children. VERDICT A funny, whimsical look at the wonders of evolution and the power of imagination for early elementary collections.-Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

A simple, cartoonlike fish prompts musings on the history of human evolution. The text fancifully traces a fish in the water who got tired of swimming all the way up in its evolution to a human boy who can fly. With a smart sense of humor and a creative sense of wonder, younger readers are introduced to the cool parts of evolution: that we were once furry creatures who liked swinging through trees and eating their fruit; cave people; and even other animals prey. Sullivan uses a Seuss-like style and format, with large-font stanzas centered on pages that face illustrations employing three high-contrasting colors (blue, black, and red) on generous white backgrounds. The spare text is deceptively simple: theres a lot of science behind statements such as One day there was a BOOM! / And things got a little crazy. It all works; although there is artistic license, the science stays on track. To keep fully grounded in fact, dont skip the all-important appended authors note, which directly addresses the texts artistic liberties (Evolution doesnt happen because a creature wants it to!). danielle j. ford(c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.