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By Polly Ho-Yen (author) , Sojung Kim-McCarthy (illustrator)
"A charming and empowering fantasy that will help all readers overcome their fears"
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A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month November 2023
Ita is adjusting to living in the new town she has just moved into with her family. There are many things she is uncertain or even afraid of, including that her family seems to be slipping away from her life.
One of her biggest fear is of water but, while exploring on her way home from school, she finds a secret river and discovers something very magical about herself. Ita is stronger and more resourceful than she thinks!
Ita is afraid of lots of things. She’s afraid of talking to her classmates at her new school. She’s afraid of walking through her new town. But most of all she is afraid of water. When one day she realises the river in her new town turns her into a fish, she is forced to face up to her fears. In doing so, can she bring her family together again?
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Deftly exploring themes of change, the notion of home and tackling the topic of fear for younger readers, this is another heart-warming and beautifully-written early reader by Polly Ho-Yen, filled with charming artwork by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.
Polly was inspired by her own love of wild swimming for this new story. She said: “The feeling of freedom and aliveness I get from being in cold water in nature is just the best! When I was thinking about a child who is facing her fears, I imagined her taking to the water and experiencing that same vital feeling I love; it felt like a natural fit.” This motif sees Ita’s fear turn to joy, celebration and freedom with a touch of magic, within an uplifting and inspiring story arc.
Polly said: “What I've loved about the response to T he Boy Who Grew a Tree has been the number of parents and teachers who've been in touch to say their child or student saw themselves as Timi. In The Girl Who Became a Fish, I hope to reach more young people who may see themselves as a little on the outside of things, and who can learn to celebrate their wonderful individuality.”
Polly Ho-Yen used to be a primary school teacher in London and while she was teaching there she would get up very early in the morning to write stories. The first of those stories became her critically acclaimed debut novel Boy in the Tower, which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and FCBG Children’s Book Award. All four of her middle-grade novels – including Fly Me Home, Where Monster’s Lie and How I Saved the World in a Week – have been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Polly’s previous younger fiction novel, The Boy Who Grew a Tree was shortlisted for the Teach Primary 2022 book awards, and featured in the 2023 Read for Empathy collection (primary). The book is also currently shortlisted for the inaugural The Week Junior Book Awards, in the Younger Fiction category.
She lives in Bristol with her husband and daughter.
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Ita is afraid of lots of things. She’s afraid of talking to her classmates at her new school.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Girl Who Became a Fish and determined it is suitable for children aged 5-8 years old
The Girl Who Became a Fish features in the following genres: Featured Books for 5+ readers, Featured Books for 7+ readers, Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Fantasy / Magical, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. Not Available.
The Girl Who Became a Fish was written by Polly Ho-Yen and published by Knights Of Media
The Girl Who Became a Fish has 118 pages
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