Amici

by Michael Foreman

Bollicino è un pesce rosso che nuota sempre in tondo nel suo acquario. Gatto vorrebbe è così bello il mondo là fuori, anche Bollicino deve conoscerlo! Per fortuna Gatto è un amico molto speciale, e un bel giorno ha un'idea brillante. Ma ora che la libertà è a un passo, Bollicino sarà pronto a lasciare il suo migliore amico?

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Cats, Storytime, Childrens, Adventure

Hardcover

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Michael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book. But I find I have to travel by myself, otherwise I'm constantly getting involved in other people's impressions of a place... I try to be invisible when I'm travelling, so I tend to listen in on conversations rather than participate in them - I just want to look and draw."

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat feels terribly sorry for his friend, Bubbles the goldfish, who swims around and around in his tank, and never get to see the wider world. One day, inspired by the sight of a bucket, Cat devises a plan to show Bubbles the wonders beyond his small home. But will Bubbles want to live "wild and free," once Cat has shown him the world...?

Friends is a sweet story, one that taps into the recent spate of cross-species friendship tales, from Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival to Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship . Although I did appreciate the narrative here, and (as always) enjoyed Michael Foreman's watercolor artwork, the part of me that doesn't really approve of keeping any pet that requires a cage or tank - bird, fish, gerbils, etc. - couldn't help but wince a bit at the idea, implicit in the story, that goldfish live unfulfilled lives in their tanks. Won't young readers pick up on that and wonder about keeping such creatures as pets at all? After all, lugging your pet goldfish around in a bucket isn't really a realistic solution for most pet-owners. And yes, this isn't meant to be a realistic story... but somehow I just couldn't silence that critical voice.

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is ok, but the art creeped me out.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of boundless and ever lasting friendship between a cat and a goldfish. Trapped in a fishbowl all day, Cat comes up with an idea to help Bubbles see more of the world beyond his fishbowl.

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un cuento tierno que me derritió el alma ni bien lo terminé en plena feria.
Con unas ilustraciones hermosas y un significado magnifico.
Hasta el momento uno de mis libros favoritos en el año y en la vida.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to just take this book at face value and not submit to my Lit major urges of delving deeper in meaning. A nice story about a cat and fish friends. There. That's all I'll say. :)

[Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends by Michael Foreman follows the adventures of a feral cat and his fish friend named Bubble. The cat has the freedom to wander the city. He can come and go as he pleases. His friend, Bubble, doesn't have the same luxury.

Instead, Bubble is stuck in his small tank. He spends his days swimming in circles and sighing. One day, the cat gets an idea. He knows exactly how to help his friend. Now Bubble must choose between his freedom and the only friend he has ever known.

I absolutely love this book! While the text is sparse, the story definitely packs a punch. My heart ached for the cat and Bubble. They have a unique friendship that gets tested in a big way.

Foreman's illustrations are big, bold, and full of heart. I love the vibrant color palette in addition to his placement of the main characters who always remain at the center of each picture. Children will fall in love with the wide-eyed cat and multi-colored Bubble.

This is a fantastic read for children ages 4-8 and for anyone who needs a reminder of what true friendship means.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about a cat showing their friend, Bubble, the goldfish around the city. Illustrations are wonderful. I especially loved seeing famous artwork changed into cat-like things toward the end of the book. And they changed the titles of the artwork too! Love that. Nice details.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

HERMOSO, NECESITO MÁS LIBROS DE GATOS EN MI VIDA. LAS ILUSTRACIONES <3

[Brianna Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a cat who take his fish friend in a bucket to see the city. It provides kids with a good example of friendship and the fish sees how important their friendship is.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange. Sweet but very strange. I liked the theme, and my 2yo loved the picture of them at the museum.

[Anjanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

friends

[Fiorella · Rating 4 out of 5]

PRECIOSO.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle story about friendship that could be used for PSHE or as a class read in KS1.

[Mary Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

historia superfuerte de amistad
dolorosa y consoladora, aparte de los personajes simpáticos

[Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better fluff with lovely art.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Two friends going out and about for an adventure.

[Christine Turner]

Summary
Bubble swims around unhappily in his tank. Cat wishes he could show him the world. One day, Cat has an idea to set Bubble free. But is Bubble ready to swim off into the world and leave his friend behind?

Notes
Michael Foreman was born in Pakefield, Suffolk on March 21, 1938. At the age of fifteen, Foreman began to study art. His first children's book was published while he was still a student. He earned his M. A. from the Royal College of Art and since then, has written and/or illustrated many children's books.
After leaving art school Michael traveled all over the world making films and television commercials. He has also worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, and TV ads. He even worked for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses.
Foreman has won the Kate Greenaway Award twice, the Smarties Book Prize, The Kurt Maschler Award, the Children's Book Award, the Bologna Book Prize and the Francis William's Illustration Award twice.
(Bowker Author Biography)

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great book to use for a "Friendship" storytime.

The story is about the unlikely friendship between a cat and a fish. A cat wanders around exploring places as he reflects how his friend, the fish, can only swim around in his bowl. One day, he decides to take the fish with him on his adventures to show him more of the world. He takes the fish to a pond, a river, and then the sea. The cat offers to set the fish free into the sea, but the fish states that he wants to go home so that he can be near his friend the cat. The fish states: "There may be lots of other fish in the sea, but I might never find a friend like you."

This is an incredibly sweet story.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unlikely friendship between a goldfish and a cat is at the center of this tale. Cat has a plan to free Bubble the goldfish. A small bucket becomes a portable tank and together the two explore the city. Illustrations invite readers back as there is much to see in multiple viewings. Good read aloud.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Animals: Cat, fish

An unlikely friendship between a cat and a goldfish. Cat feels sorry for the boring life of his friend, Bubble, and decides to take him around town in a water-filled bucket. Bubble is sad that he can't swim free with the other fishes but values his friendship more.

Crisp, blending watercolors of beautiful landscapes and animals.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely watercolor illustrations help tell the tale of two unlikely friends--a fish and a cat. The cat takes the fish out to see the big wide world in a small, clear bucket of water. This story is a testament to the power of friendship and is told with beautiful spare text that makes it an easy read-aloud.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't want a friend like cat? taking fish out to see the world safe and secure in a bucket of water. The playful art with fish and cat images will extend the story with silliness if you like to play that way.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Micheal Foreman's illustrations. This book is about a cat and a goldfish friendship. The cat takes the goldfish in a bucket to see the world. I was thinking the whole time that the fish would get eaten, but that's not how this books ends.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of a cat helping his fish friend see the world. But something about the ending was unsatisfying to me. It felt like the author couldn't come up with anything better. But still, not a bad story.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cat wishes to show his fish friend the grand world he sees every day, but the fish decides the cat's friendship is more important.

Humane-minded families probably won't like the depiction of a cat that roams daily all over the city.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story about friendship.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm, charming story about two unlikely friends.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bubble's friend,a cat, helps bubble see everything in the city

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book all around-- illustrations, cat and fish being friends, the beauty of friendship-- all great.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

cat and fish are the best of friends.