The great googly moogly

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Nobody has ever been able to catch The Great Googly Moogly - a giant and terrifying fish of legend. But Stella aims to do just that. Armed with fishing gear and differing baits, she sets out every day to realise her dream, whatever the weather. But what will she do if she succeeds?Courtney Dicmas's latest book features a strong and spirited character determined to achieve her goal, but it also reflects our responsibilities to other creatures, and our place in the natural world.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Stella reads about the Great Googly Moogly-a giant fish with terrible jaws and yellow eyes-and dreams of catching it. Every day she goes to the dock, throws out her line, and waits. Young readers can see what the child can't-the body of the great fish swimming unobserved under the dock. Then one day, as she rests in her small boat, the head of the great creature appears out of the water. Surprise is mutual. "AAAH!" says Stella, and "Eeeee!" says the fish. The fish's kind eyes are reassuring, so together they go down into the deep water among the seaweed and starfish. When they surface, the world looks different to Stella. The watercolor illustrations and cartoon style are just right for this sunny tale of a persistent little girl who realizes this legendary creature does not belong to her. Knowing she never has to catch another fish, she can move on to other adventures. The simple text makes this a good choice for beginning readers, and humorous details in the artwork will bring smiles. Stella's room is an eye-catching display of fish-on the wallpaper, the lampshade, her blanket, and even her stuffed toy. Colors are bright and bold, from the child's red polka-dot boots and orange hat, to the blobs of vibrant colors on the fish's back. A solid choice.-Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

Young angler Stella plans to catch the Great Googly Moogly, which is rumored to be monstrous. Through tenacity she succeeds--no surprise; what's unexpected is that her conquest is about as monstrous as a tadpole. The story prompts conscientiousness--"Was the Googly Moogly hers to keep?"--although the ending is limp. Dicmas's Stella favorably recalls one of Jules Feiffer's dancers. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Bright splashy colors and a catchy title highlight this purpose-driven tale.Stella is obsessed with fishing, most particularly with catching the Great Googly Moogly, a supposedly monstrous creature haunting local waters for 200 years. Every day she goes down to the dock with her fishing gear. At night, in her bedroom with its fishy wallpaper, fish rug and fish stuffie, she dreams of the Great Googly Moogly. When the huge fish finally does appear and gives Stella a joyous ride, she rethinks this whole "catching" idea. At the end, readers see her and her parents in their rowboat, Stella dipping her hand into the water next to the big fish, who is looking friendly and content. The final image, of Stella hanging upside down next to a surprised-looking sloth, may make readers wonder if she is just shifting her obsession to mammalswho knows? "Googly Moogly" may have originated in mid-20th-century blues and was popularized as a phrase by Frank Zappa in the 1970s. It is great fun to say aloud.Simply rolling the syllables "Great Googly Moogly" over their tongues may be enough to carry readers past the slightly elliptical ending. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.