A dreamy young boy given to flights of fancy, Gus - Gustave in the original French - becomes a fish in this charming picture-book from Claire Babin, turning bath-time into an opportunity to explore the underwater world of a pond. As he swims here and there, observing the water lilies and reeds, interacting with a duckling, and the other fish, Gus gains an appreciation for the beauty of this enclosed ecosystem...

Like its companion, Gus Is a Tree, this title combines the wonder of dreaming with the enlightenment of discovery, producing an engaging story that will inspire young readers to more closely examine the natural world around them. Vocabulary words are given in all capital letters in the text, and defined at the rear of the book, for those children who want to know more. Olivier Tallec's illustrations are a bright montage of painted and photographic elements, all mixed together to create an immensely appealing whole. All in all, this is an engaging book - imaginative and fun, and just a little bit different! ( )