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Big Al and Shrimpy
Poor Shrimpy! He may be the smartest fish in the sea, but he's also the smallest. Who would want to be friends with such a teeny, tiny fish? Big Al, that's who! Big Al remembers what it feels like to to be an outsider, and he and Shrimpy become best friends. And when Big Al finds himself in danger, it's Shrimpy's smart thinking that saves the day -- and wins Shrimpy the respect and affection of other fish.
40 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 1991
1 person is currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Clements
189 books2,176 followersI was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 4, 2021
This is a cute addition to Big Al. Not a sequel, really, so it's not necessary to read Big Al first. But Big All is a very nice book on its own, so if you haven't read it... In my experience, six year olds like this a lot. The little guy helps the big guy. They are good friends. Happy ending. Beautiful illustrations. What's not to like?
June 17, 2020
Nice mainstay in Jack's first few years. 8/10
June 16, 2021
A sweet tale of how a small fish can help even the largest one.
September 23, 2021
Only engaged part of the preschool class. They wanted more books about pizza rather than the ocean or making friends I guess.
September 1, 2025
I am a sucker for any sort of "little guy saves the day" story and this was exactly that! Very good for a classroom lesson about friendship and making sure everyone's ideas are included.
September 14, 2019
This book was very cute, and kept me entertained. This book is about friendship, and how friends come out of the blue, and come in every shape and size. Big Al and small shrimpy become best friends throughout this book.
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March 8, 2017Shrimpy is one of the smartest fish in the sea, but he's so small that the other fish do not want to be friends with him. His loneliness was strong until one day, Shrimpy and Big Al (the biggest fish in the sea), found they were the perfect partners for tag; they became the best of friends! Their friendship teaches them both important lessons regarding sharing and helping, especially when Big Al tumbles down into the Big Deep and needs rescuing. The only one willing and creative enough to come up with an idea to save him is his best pal - Shrimpy! At the end, all of the fish learn that regardless of Shrimpy's size, his ideas and intellectual ability means more than appearance!
March 13, 2017
Another story about the Big Al, the big ugly fish. This time he becomes best friends with Shrimpy, a very smart and very small fish who doesn't have any friends. Although the story is predictable, young readers will appreciate the message that friends (and heroes) can come in all sizes.
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November 3, 2010Shrimpy was a very very small fish and Big Al was very big. In the ocean all the fish liked to play tag but Big Al couldn't get any of the fish except shrimpy and Shrimpy could only get Big Al. They weren't allowed to play anymore because they always just tagged each other. Thus began their friendship. When they are playing something happens to Big Al and needs Shrimpy's help but also the other fish helps.
April 19, 2012
I thought this book was a pretty cute book. It is about friendship as well.
I would use this book when talking about different things animals do in order to survive. Fish travel in groups or stick to bigger fish in order to prevent from being eaten.
This book also briefly talks about force, and you can branch out from this text to talking about force.
Appropriate for Kindergarten to 4th grade.
I would use this book when talking about different things animals do in order to survive. Fish travel in groups or stick to bigger fish in order to prevent from being eaten.
This book also briefly talks about force, and you can branch out from this text to talking about force.
Appropriate for Kindergarten to 4th grade.
April 2, 2013
This tells the story about two very different fish who become friends. The two friends go the the deep dark sea together and face dangers. The author hooks readers in by using Plays on Words (...he cried little salty tears into the big salty sea.) We can teach students to put a play on their words to keep people engaged.
October 4, 2011
In the big open ocean two very differnt fish form a wonderful friendship. One is bigger and usually acts as the leader until one day he is in need of help. It is up to Shrimpy to step up and be the brave fish. It's a great book for teaching children that size doesn't mean everything.
December 5, 2011
This book discusses Shrimpy not having any friends but Big Al. One day Big Al falls into the dark part of the sea and Shrimpy shows no fear. Shrimpy gathers everyone and saves Big Al. I would use this book in the classroom to discuss the imporatance of friendship.
April 20, 2012
This book takes place in the ocean and talks about force and motion, the habits of sea animals, survival of certain types of fish and how fish stick together to ward off enemies.
Recommended grade level: P-5
Recommended grade level: P-5
August 3, 2012
(3.5 stars)
Shrimpy is a little fish who enjoys having Big Al as his best friend. But one day while exploring, Big Al gets himself into BIG trouble. How will a little fish like Shrimpy save his big friend?
Shrimpy is a little fish who enjoys having Big Al as his best friend. But one day while exploring, Big Al gets himself into BIG trouble. How will a little fish like Shrimpy save his big friend?
February 11, 2015
This book was a bit boring for me, but the children may enjoy reading it. The story shows good friendship, bullying, and excepting differences. This would be more for the younger students because of the quick and very easy read. The illustrations look good.
August 19, 2008
AMAZING illustrations. The story's okay.
September 20, 2008
Good book about friendship :)
April 29, 2010
Very predictable storyline, big fish and little fish as main characters, illustrations done in dark tones.
April 1, 2011
cute little story of a little fish that helps a big fish
May 10, 2011
Not as good as Big Al but decent enough to read as a set.
March 31, 2015
This kind of book is not my typical choice for an audiobook, but it is a great one for small children. Mine love it.
May 28, 2012
not at all memorable
June 19, 2012
Illustrations were fine, text a little too instructive. Echoes of "Swimmy".
August 23, 2012
another friendship book
December 14, 2012
i enjoyed this sequel to Big Al.
August 24, 2015
2.75 stars The pictures in this book are great. The story was a little dull and predictable. I like that is teaches team work and size and age don't matter. We have something to offer!
January 21, 2016
A cute and rather predictable story about a big fish befriending a little fish. The little fish ends up "saving" the big fish and then everyone likes him.
Illustrations are okay.
Illustrations are okay.
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June 3, 2016I am going to hunt this one out! I love Big Al. I'm kinda thinkin' Shrimpy needs a home....
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews