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Fish Finelli #1
Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles
When bully Bryce Billings bets Fish Finelli that he can't find Captain Kidd's legendary long-lost treasure, Fish and his friends embark on a quest to find real-life pirate treasure. Between sneaking into the library to track down Captain Kidd's map, stowing away on a boat, and trespassing on an island, Fish and his friends have their work cut out for them. But will Fish actually be able to find Captain Kidd's booty and win the bet? Appropriate for both boys and girls, this first book in the Fish Finelli series will inspire readers to use their imaginations, learn about the world around them, and appreciate the bonds of friendship.
155 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 15, 2015
I received this book at SCIBA last October along with a million other ARC.
I have a strong opinion about children's book. (Yes! I am jumping on my soap box.) A children's book should give the young readers a few things:
1. Fun. That is always important to get them hooked.
2. An example of good behavior. (If not number 3)
3. An example of bad actions. If you do bad things then this will happen.
4. Good always does right. You don't have the good guys do bad things to prove their goodness. I know that does not make sense but keep reading.
In this book Fish Finelli three young adventurous boys (Fish, Roger, and T.J) are confronted by Bryce (a bully type) to find Captain Kidd's treasure the boys quickly go on the Captain Kidd quest to find his long lost treasure.
Now here is when the story takes a crazy turn. The boys break into the librarians office (not accidentally get locked in after hours.) I thought they were the good guys. Stowing away on a boat and trespassing onto private property is only to come next. Say what!? This is so not right. They are the GOOD GUYS! Really?
My next issue is the age range this book is geared to. The ARC says 8-12 and Amazon listed 7-10. I am not sure if the book would be in the vocabulary level of an 8 year old. 9 and up maybe. Through out the book there are definitions of words in the margin with bigger words in the definitions. It's as if they just cut and pasted the wikipedia definition into the illustration. Not age appropriate definitions.
This book has the feeling of the Goonie's movie but missed the mark for me. I need to have a reader in the age group read it and give you their thoughts.
I have a strong opinion about children's book. (Yes! I am jumping on my soap box.) A children's book should give the young readers a few things:
1. Fun. That is always important to get them hooked.
2. An example of good behavior. (If not number 3)
3. An example of bad actions. If you do bad things then this will happen.
4. Good always does right. You don't have the good guys do bad things to prove their goodness. I know that does not make sense but keep reading.
In this book Fish Finelli three young adventurous boys (Fish, Roger, and T.J) are confronted by Bryce (a bully type) to find Captain Kidd's treasure the boys quickly go on the Captain Kidd quest to find his long lost treasure.
Now here is when the story takes a crazy turn. The boys break into the librarians office (not accidentally get locked in after hours.) I thought they were the good guys. Stowing away on a boat and trespassing onto private property is only to come next. Say what!? This is so not right. They are the GOOD GUYS! Really?
My next issue is the age range this book is geared to. The ARC says 8-12 and Amazon listed 7-10. I am not sure if the book would be in the vocabulary level of an 8 year old. 9 and up maybe. Through out the book there are definitions of words in the margin with bigger words in the definitions. It's as if they just cut and pasted the wikipedia definition into the illustration. Not age appropriate definitions.
This book has the feeling of the Goonie's movie but missed the mark for me. I need to have a reader in the age group read it and give you their thoughts.
July 23, 2013
Norman, known as Fish by his friends and family, has been fixing up an old boat with his pals Roger and T.J. Roger is on the right and T.J. is the one with the pickle in his hand on the left. Once the boat is finished, the trio plan to put on a Seagull motor boat engine then race in the Captain Kidd Classic. Fish has been saving up his money, but he is still about twenty-seven dollars shy of the fifty-four he needs for the motor. To make matters worse, Fish enters into a bet with bully Bryce Billings that he can find the long lost treasure of none other than Captain Kidd himself. Will he and his friends be able to pull off this feat?
You know how on a hot summer day sometimes we stop for some ice cream? As soon as we're done eating it this feeling of "ah, refreshing" hits us. Well, Fish Finelli kinda left me with that feeling. Know what I mean? Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles is such a cute summertime read. There is adventure, mischief, friendships and those illustrations by Jason Beene are so darn cute. Interspersed are some nice educational tidbits about Long Island, wild life and historical figures that seemed to enrich the story line for me. Highly recommend for 7-10 year old boys and girls. My review copy came from the public library.
You know how on a hot summer day sometimes we stop for some ice cream? As soon as we're done eating it this feeling of "ah, refreshing" hits us. Well, Fish Finelli kinda left me with that feeling. Know what I mean? Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles is such a cute summertime read. There is adventure, mischief, friendships and those illustrations by Jason Beene are so darn cute. Interspersed are some nice educational tidbits about Long Island, wild life and historical figures that seemed to enrich the story line for me. Highly recommend for 7-10 year old boys and girls. My review copy came from the public library.
July 17, 2015
Nothing wrong with the book. Good for younger readers. Few but good drawings. Nice little side bar facts. Piper reed with boy main characters.
February 19, 2017
Okay, I would like to start saying that usually I only review teen books and above.
First off, I would recommend this for grades 2-4, or for kids who are reluctant readers. Once per chapter there tends to be a full page illustration.
The main character is Norman "Fish" Finelli. He's a charming lad who knows many facts. They give you various information about some of his facts in handy little boxes on the side as you read along.
He has two best friends. One is named Roger the other is T.J. Now where to start? Okay how about T.J.? To put it simply T.J. is written as the stereotypical "stupid fat kid" though they do tell us several times that T.J. is smarter than he looks/acts. Though most of the time he's seen eating (all the time) shoveling food into his mouth and not acting smart. Roger is a multicultural boy. I honestly can't remember if his race is ever mentioned other than in the pictures. So, if you're someone looking for only multicultural child and issues relating to race, then no, don't bother.
As for the plot, well Fish bets the local snobby rich kid that he can find Captain's Kidd treasure. If he looses he owes $50 to the spoiled brat. If Fish wins, he gets the snobby's kid expensive sunglasses. That's basically it. It didn't really keep my attention, but as you can tell from the review I tend to ramble and have a lowered ability to pay attention.
First off, I would recommend this for grades 2-4, or for kids who are reluctant readers. Once per chapter there tends to be a full page illustration.
The main character is Norman "Fish" Finelli. He's a charming lad who knows many facts. They give you various information about some of his facts in handy little boxes on the side as you read along.
He has two best friends. One is named Roger the other is T.J. Now where to start? Okay how about T.J.? To put it simply T.J. is written as the stereotypical "stupid fat kid" though they do tell us several times that T.J. is smarter than he looks/acts. Though most of the time he's seen eating (all the time) shoveling food into his mouth and not acting smart. Roger is a multicultural boy. I honestly can't remember if his race is ever mentioned other than in the pictures. So, if you're someone looking for only multicultural child and issues relating to race, then no, don't bother.
As for the plot, well Fish bets the local snobby rich kid that he can find Captain's Kidd treasure. If he looses he owes $50 to the spoiled brat. If Fish wins, he gets the snobby's kid expensive sunglasses. That's basically it. It didn't really keep my attention, but as you can tell from the review I tend to ramble and have a lowered ability to pay attention.
June 28, 2022
I honestly picked up this book to see how the librarian was portrayed...he is smart, hip and has good research skills, ha ha. The book had a good plot and lots of great vocabulary. I can see how a middle schooler who is a good reader would enjoy the twists and turns and the references to "real" history. #OceansOfPossibilities
March 10, 2017
I did not like this book
November 15, 2017
My students thinks it is a good because it was funny and the characters were amazing.
January 22, 2021
I found this book hard to get into. The story finally picked up about halfway through and then became more enjoyable.
May 4, 2022
Read this to my 5 year old and he loved it!
November 5, 2014
Fish Finelli: Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles by E. S. Farber is quite an interesting read; at first, it seems like a typical adventure/mystery chapter book for sister-bothering, trouble-getting-into boys and yet at the same time it feels like something completely new. The story revolves around a group of friends searching for the treasure of Captain Kidd and getting into all kinds of mischief along the way. But, they must find the treasure before a tall, dark, and mysterious "spy"/librarian and his partner find it first!
I was actually surprised to learn that E. S. Farber is a woman simply because I expected such a traditional boy-ish book to be written by someone who... well, once was a boy. The more I think about it though, the happier I am that the author is a woman because it draws attention to her skills as a writer. As in, she can write from a boy's perspective effectively and convincingly.
One of the things I liked best about this book is that Farber has made it informational. On many pages are kid-friendly snippets of factual information related to the chapter, such as ospreys, Captain Kidd, and microwave ovens. I didn't expect these interesting little tid-bits when I picked up the book and I learned a lot of things I didn't know! I do have to admit though that Farber includes a lot of these "fun facts" in the main character Norman "Fish" Finelli's dialogue or asides. At times it feels rather forced and gives the character a sort of unpleasant "know-it-all" vibe.
I'm almost sad that it's a chapter book because it limits the number of illustrations in it and I'm very fond of Jason Beene's style for this book. His illustrations have a soft and sketchy air about them, which I think complements the text very well.
While I wasn't crazy about this book, I still think it would be nice to have in my classroom library because it is a cute story and the informational aspect of it makes me feel like it would be a really great text for students (both boys and girls!), especially those that are already interested in pirates/treasure hunting. I think young children would probably find it a much more fun read because it's written for them, on their level. Fifth and sixth graders can probably handle most or all of the text on their own, but I think even 3rd and 4th graders would enjoy it as a multi-session read-aloud.
I was actually surprised to learn that E. S. Farber is a woman simply because I expected such a traditional boy-ish book to be written by someone who... well, once was a boy. The more I think about it though, the happier I am that the author is a woman because it draws attention to her skills as a writer. As in, she can write from a boy's perspective effectively and convincingly.
One of the things I liked best about this book is that Farber has made it informational. On many pages are kid-friendly snippets of factual information related to the chapter, such as ospreys, Captain Kidd, and microwave ovens. I didn't expect these interesting little tid-bits when I picked up the book and I learned a lot of things I didn't know! I do have to admit though that Farber includes a lot of these "fun facts" in the main character Norman "Fish" Finelli's dialogue or asides. At times it feels rather forced and gives the character a sort of unpleasant "know-it-all" vibe.
I'm almost sad that it's a chapter book because it limits the number of illustrations in it and I'm very fond of Jason Beene's style for this book. His illustrations have a soft and sketchy air about them, which I think complements the text very well.
While I wasn't crazy about this book, I still think it would be nice to have in my classroom library because it is a cute story and the informational aspect of it makes me feel like it would be a really great text for students (both boys and girls!), especially those that are already interested in pirates/treasure hunting. I think young children would probably find it a much more fun read because it's written for them, on their level. Fifth and sixth graders can probably handle most or all of the text on their own, but I think even 3rd and 4th graders would enjoy it as a multi-session read-aloud.
May 7, 2014
I'd heard this series described as an Ivy and Bean-type book with male characters. I have big, puffy hearts for Ivy + Bean so I was keen on reading this book as well.
Color me unimpressed.
After making an unwise bet with a local bully, Fish and his friends Roger and T.J. have two weeks to discover the location of Captain Kidd's treasure, rumored to be hidden somewhere in the area. There's lots in here that will appeal to boys--bugs, muck, goose poop humor, pirates, and more. Sprinkled throughout are facts that were, for the most part, fun to read.
Now for why I'm unimpressed. The adventures seemed disjointed and only half of it seemed to be focused on the main plot. The facts in sidebars were great, but it felt extremely forced and out of place to have it in the text. In parentheses. In italics. That totally took me out of the story. Finally, my biggest dislike was the character of T.J. He was the token "fat kid" comic relief. He barely did anything to further the story. In every scene he was eating--candy, cookies, etc. In fact, at one point, when his kayak capsized, he saved his cookie rather than his oar. Puh-leese. In a time of rampant childhood obesity, I expect something more instead of pigeon-holing a character and at the same time minimalizing a population of kids.
I borrowed this from another library to see if I wanted to add it to my library's collection. Short answer: No. Not recommended.
Color me unimpressed.
After making an unwise bet with a local bully, Fish and his friends Roger and T.J. have two weeks to discover the location of Captain Kidd's treasure, rumored to be hidden somewhere in the area. There's lots in here that will appeal to boys--bugs, muck, goose poop humor, pirates, and more. Sprinkled throughout are facts that were, for the most part, fun to read.
Now for why I'm unimpressed. The adventures seemed disjointed and only half of it seemed to be focused on the main plot. The facts in sidebars were great, but it felt extremely forced and out of place to have it in the text. In parentheses. In italics. That totally took me out of the story. Finally, my biggest dislike was the character of T.J. He was the token "fat kid" comic relief. He barely did anything to further the story. In every scene he was eating--candy, cookies, etc. In fact, at one point, when his kayak capsized, he saved his cookie rather than his oar. Puh-leese. In a time of rampant childhood obesity, I expect something more instead of pigeon-holing a character and at the same time minimalizing a population of kids.
I borrowed this from another library to see if I wanted to add it to my library's collection. Short answer: No. Not recommended.
June 10, 2016
Hearing this was "a great boy's counterpart" to Ivy + Bean, I had very high hopes for this book. I am sad to say I was sorely disappointed.
Fish Finelli tells the tale of Fish and his friends Roger and T.J. trying to find a hidden treasure and beat the story's bully character, Bryce, at his bet. I enjoyed the different definitions sprinkled throughout the book. Other than that there was not anything original here.
The reason I gave this book such a low rating however, is the treatment of the character T.J. T.J. is bigger than the other boys-and his personality is so harmful and stereotypical that it blew my mind. I know we can do better for our young boys. Negative body images are given to children in so many places, I don't know why children's writers continue to contribute to these harmful images that are so prevalent in our society.
Some of the gems from the story to show you how T.J. is treated.
"'I was about to look for you guys,' said T.J. He took a bite out of a mushy candy bar that looked like it had taken a trip through the washing machine."
"T.J. ate the rest of his licorice as he digested this information."
"'What do horses have to do with it?" asked T.J., popping a jelly bean in his mouth."
"'I'm starving, said T.J. He pulled a roll of SweeTarts out of his pocket and put a fuzzy one in his mouth. It looked like it was covered with dryer lint."
I could go on and on. Almost every time T.J.'s name pops up in this book, he is putting food into his mouth or asking a stupid question that Fish or Roger answer for him. Let's try and do better.
Fish Finelli tells the tale of Fish and his friends Roger and T.J. trying to find a hidden treasure and beat the story's bully character, Bryce, at his bet. I enjoyed the different definitions sprinkled throughout the book. Other than that there was not anything original here.
The reason I gave this book such a low rating however, is the treatment of the character T.J. T.J. is bigger than the other boys-and his personality is so harmful and stereotypical that it blew my mind. I know we can do better for our young boys. Negative body images are given to children in so many places, I don't know why children's writers continue to contribute to these harmful images that are so prevalent in our society.
Some of the gems from the story to show you how T.J. is treated.
"'I was about to look for you guys,' said T.J. He took a bite out of a mushy candy bar that looked like it had taken a trip through the washing machine."
"T.J. ate the rest of his licorice as he digested this information."
"'What do horses have to do with it?" asked T.J., popping a jelly bean in his mouth."
"'I'm starving, said T.J. He pulled a roll of SweeTarts out of his pocket and put a fuzzy one in his mouth. It looked like it was covered with dryer lint."
I could go on and on. Almost every time T.J.'s name pops up in this book, he is putting food into his mouth or asking a stupid question that Fish or Roger answer for him. Let's try and do better.
November 12, 2013
I won an advance reader copy and only wish it had been a finished copy. The illustrations in the ARC were not completed and, of course, AR Copies typically have textual changes. This book is too delightful for boys for this ARC to simply sit on a shelf or be trashed - it needs to be shared. Hence, my wishing it had been a finished copy.
Finelli and friends are involved in summer time boy stuff with gross boy-like-details. This group of friends are busily involved in funny action-packed activities - the stuff of boys and good friends.
Interestingly, the author has placed tidbits of non-fiction information in side panels that tweak the reader's interest. And the illustrations make for more readability for the reluctant reader or early to mid-elementary reader.
I give most of the books I review to a school for the library, so I would have really appreciated if my copy had not been an ARC but had been a nice hard-cover book. Anyway you look at it, though, this is a really nifty book for boys.
Finelli and friends are involved in summer time boy stuff with gross boy-like-details. This group of friends are busily involved in funny action-packed activities - the stuff of boys and good friends.
Interestingly, the author has placed tidbits of non-fiction information in side panels that tweak the reader's interest. And the illustrations make for more readability for the reluctant reader or early to mid-elementary reader.
I give most of the books I review to a school for the library, so I would have really appreciated if my copy had not been an ARC but had been a nice hard-cover book. Anyway you look at it, though, this is a really nifty book for boys.
January 1, 2016
We just finished book one of the Fish Finelli Series, a boy with his friends living their lives in small town Whooping Hollow. My son likes these boys so much that he started reading the next book in the series on his own. :)
The characters are well developed, TJ is a bit of a funny lad... "Why does he like to eat ALL the time mom?" This is the one part of the story my lad didn't like .. food is so very important to TJ. The story is interesting. It flows well. The rivalry between Bryce and Fish is very obvious and sets the stage for future books.
The chapters are short and are illustrated by Jason Beene. The drawings add to the story and help develop the storyline.
When asked if he would recommend other people read this Fish Finelli book the response was a rousing YES. :)
So read the book... see how they learned the Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles. :)
April 8, 2013
In this illustrated middle grade story, Fish Finelli is a smart, adventure-loving boy who sets off to find Captain Kidd's legendary lost treasure buried in a small island in Long Island sound. He and his buddies get into scrapes and near-disasters as they find a treasure map, avoid a Mystery Man on a similar quest, and arrive at Lyons Island to search for the treasure. What I liked about this book was the many factoids and illustrated side bars that gave interesting information, such as the history of pieces of eight or Nikolas Tesla. Fish Finelli also includes scientific tidbits in conversation, such as the definition of amps, the principles of photosynthesis, and the fact that seagulls don't like pickles.
April 19, 2016
I really had no idea that Seagulls actually do not eat pickles. For real! Ha!
Book one in this series is full of action and the chapters are short which is perfect for the target audience. The book is more on the chapter book side and I loved the illustrations, along with the cool facts on the sides.
Fish and his friends make an interesting group. Everyone is different but their uniqueness played an important role in how they solved the mystery of Captain Kidd's treasure. The treasure hunt was dangerous, messy, stinky and full of surprises.
This is a fun read, perfect for a pre-summer read (please don't throw any tomatoes at me). I rated the book 3 but it will most likely be a solid 5 for the right age group.
Book one in this series is full of action and the chapters are short which is perfect for the target audience. The book is more on the chapter book side and I loved the illustrations, along with the cool facts on the sides.
Fish and his friends make an interesting group. Everyone is different but their uniqueness played an important role in how they solved the mystery of Captain Kidd's treasure. The treasure hunt was dangerous, messy, stinky and full of surprises.
This is a fun read, perfect for a pre-summer read (please don't throw any tomatoes at me). I rated the book 3 but it will most likely be a solid 5 for the right age group.
March 24, 2013
One of the ALA ARCs I picked up thinking it might be a fun book to have when kids come over. It didn't work for me at all. I found the inclusion of little didactic boxes about Tesla and microwaves and the like to be obtrusive. There's one kid who every time he's mentioned, is eating something. That's one of those things that, done in moderation, helps distinguish a character but done every time ruins a book for me.
I liked the boys, though. They were silly and real-sounding a lot of the time.
I liked the boys, though. They were silly and real-sounding a lot of the time.
September 6, 2013
This is a fun adventure mystery. While the strong plot concerns Fish and his friends hunting for lost pirate treasure, the book's greatest strength is its character development; not just Fish, but his friends and family and other minor characters as well. It has a gentle sense of humor that keeps things light and sporadic sidebars with factoids that don't seem either intrusive or patronizing. Realistic yet playful illustrations. And one of the best-named librarians ever: Mr. E. Mann (say it aloud--Mystery Man).
February 27, 2013
I got to read an advanced reader copy and it was very good. As soon as it's available to purchase, I will be getting a copy for my school library. The story is fun with a main character who is a regular kid who actually has a brain. He is interested in a lot and knows a lot but he's not the typical nerd or geek. There are sidebars with information scattered throughout. Very well done, I'm looking forward to more in this series.
June 8, 2013
The local bully Bryce Billings sees Fish Finelli and his friends Roger and T. J. playing what he considers a childish game of pirates. He mocks the boys and then lures Fish into a bet that will be hard for him to be able to win. The book is filled with humor and mysteries and all the things that make summer and boyhood fun. Even the title contains a code and inside joke about the habits of seagulls.
June 9, 2013
I received this book for free from a Goodreads ARC giveaway.
Read this one with my 7 year old son, and we loved it! He gave it a 5 star rating. It was fun and entertaining, well-written, and made us laugh. The mom in me loved the little educational tidbits throughout the book.
Looking forward to more Fish Finelli adventures!
Read this one with my 7 year old son, and we loved it! He gave it a 5 star rating. It was fun and entertaining, well-written, and made us laugh. The mom in me loved the little educational tidbits throughout the book.
Looking forward to more Fish Finelli adventures!
August 1, 2013
3.5 stars
Funny story with lots of action and interesting characters. Characters are written perhaps a bit more mature than believable, but writing is overall very strong. Action keeps the story at a good pace and it's got a bit of suspense and mystery. Overall, I think a fun read for kids, along the lines of Stink (although at a higher reading level).
Funny story with lots of action and interesting characters. Characters are written perhaps a bit more mature than believable, but writing is overall very strong. Action keeps the story at a good pace and it's got a bit of suspense and mystery. Overall, I think a fun read for kids, along the lines of Stink (although at a higher reading level).
July 14, 2016
This is a perfect series to motivate young boys to read. Fish and his two best friends take a dare to search for a long lost pirate treasure. Each of the boys has a special skill that allows them to follow the clues others have missed. This book is very similiar to fun films like the Goonies. Loved it!!!
November 5, 2016
A humorous book about a group of friends who set out to solve the mystery of Captain Kidd's treasure. (Wait--I always heard it was buried on an island in the Connecticut River!!!)
There is a possibly evil librarian involved and lots of boy-type potty humor. I like the setting near the sea. This one has reluctant reader written all over it.
There is a possibly evil librarian involved and lots of boy-type potty humor. I like the setting near the sea. This one has reluctant reader written all over it.
January 17, 2017
The illustrations were great, but the story not so much. My 8yr old son lost interest halfway through and asked me to stop reading it to him. The writing was good and the characters were decent. However the storyline was a bit weak - treasure hunting should be a bit more exciting than it was in this book.
March 30, 2013
** Please support your local independent bookstore when buying this book! Buying from Amazon.com hurts your local economy. If you don't know where to go, check here: http://www.indiebound.org/indie-store... **
March 21, 2013
Received from Goodreads first reads giveaway
My son and I read this together each night before bed. The story was cute, the characters likeable, and we both enjoyed it. I would recommend this book. I think it is best suited for those in grades 3-6.
My son and I read this together each night before bed. The story was cute, the characters likeable, and we both enjoyed it. I would recommend this book. I think it is best suited for those in grades 3-6.
April 10, 2013
I received a copy from Goodreads first reads giveaway.
I work in an elementary school library and not only did I enjoy this book, but I think the students will too! I enjoyed how Fish made the book educational while still being fun. I can't wait to share it!
I work in an elementary school library and not only did I enjoy this book, but I think the students will too! I enjoyed how Fish made the book educational while still being fun. I can't wait to share it!
July 10, 2013
Fun adventure, very quick read. Lots of interesting factoids in the margins. The main character is a bit unbelievable because he knows way more than many adults about the history and science that comes up in the story, but otherwise the characters are funny and relatable.
January 24, 2015
My 7 year old loved this book. We read it together. It has cute laugh out loud moments. I had to use the book as a springboard to some meaningful non-examples of poor choice behaviors and that is why I only gave the book 3 stars.
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