The ambiguous ending allows the reader to speculate almost demands he do so. Though some might think it too dark to think the large fish ate the tiny fish, this is only one possible resolution. The astute reader will understand the tiny fish, the story’s narrator, is no longer narrating the events because… well, you know. From here to the end, the denouement is shared using illustrations alone. The illustrations completely take over the story at the climax when the big fish enters the thick plants after the tiny fish following the tiny fish’s declaration, “Nobody will ever find me.” He has been wrong before. For example, the reader knows the big fish is sleeping, awake, aware his hat is missing, or in angry pursuit from the character’s eyes alone. No discussion about the illustrations would be complete without comment about the eyes! By simply changing character eyes, Klassen conveys much meaning. The fish are shown at different places on the page to indicate they are moving from left to right heading towards the thick plants, and right to left when returning. Movement is conveyed using small, white, paint splattered bubbles, and is emphasized on the wide, horizontal, double-spread pages. This beautifully mirrors the contrast seen between the story narrative and the reality depicted in the illustrations. The black, dark illustrations contrast with the white strips for the text along the top of the double-spread pages and the white facing pages of the single page illustrations. A black background and a black and ochre color palette are used to depict this underwater adventure told in first person from the tiny fish’s point of view. This book was rightfully awarded both the Caldecott Award and the Greenaway Award for its illustrations – and it is the only book to be awarded both. Will the little fish get away? Will the big fish catch him? This irony also creates suspense as the reader wonders what will happen. The straightforward language and plot of this humourous picture book make it simple enough for the very young to understand, but the contrast between the narrator’s words and the reality seen in the illustrations makes it laugh-out-loud fun for all ages.
The plot climax takes place hidden behind the seaweed and the story culminates with the silent emergence of only the large fish who returns to sleeping…wearing his tiny bowler hat. The big fish enters the seaweed right behind the tiny fish. As the tiny fish swims to the supposedly secure cover of seaweed, the large fish pursues, given directions by the single witness to the tiny fish’s flight. The tiny fish is convinced he has pulled off his heist undetected, but the illustrations reveal he is mistaken. ISBN 978-0-7636-5599-0 Plot SummaryĪ tiny fish has stolen a tiny bowler hat from atop the head of a large, sleeping fish.
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