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A Fish Named Glub
In this lyrical story about friendship and the power of dreams, a small and ordinary fish named Glub asks himself the big questions in life as he observes life in the diner beyond his fishbowl. Who am I? Where do I belong? The lively characters around him provide unexpected answers, but soon it's Glub who reveals answers to their questions -- and their hearts' true desires. The small and ordinary fish discovers that life can be extraordinary. You just have to ask ...
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Dan Bar-el
20 books96 followersDan Bar-el is an award-winning children’s author, educator and storyteller. His writing includes chapter books, such as The Very, Very Far North and Audrey (cow), picture books, such as Not Your Typical Dragon and It's Great Being a Dad, and graphic novels, such as That One Spooky Night and Dog Night at the Story Zoo.
For the past twenty-five years, Dan has been working with children ages 3 to 13. He’s been a school age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama and a creative writing teacher. He’s developed a multitude of creative activities for children including movie making and a radio show involving school-age childcare centres across Vancouver. As a preschool teacher, Dan created Stories in Our Own Words, a program for 3 & 4 year olds based on the ideas of famed educator and author, Vivian Gussin Paley that fostered the development of the children’s own stories by recording them and then acting them as a group.
In the past, Dan trained and worked professionally as an actor, has written for theatre, as well as written and performed comedy across Canada. These days, when not writing or teaching writing to children through the organization CWC, Dan merrily travels around the country visiting many schools and libraries.
Hiking and travelling are two of his passions. In 2004, he completed the 800 km pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostella in Spain, and more recently, he did the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu in Peru. Cooking, baking and eating the results of said efforts are some of his others pursuits. Dan lives in Vancouver, BC with his wife, artist and goldsmith, Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe.
For the past twenty-five years, Dan has been working with children ages 3 to 13. He’s been a school age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama and a creative writing teacher. He’s developed a multitude of creative activities for children including movie making and a radio show involving school-age childcare centres across Vancouver. As a preschool teacher, Dan created Stories in Our Own Words, a program for 3 & 4 year olds based on the ideas of famed educator and author, Vivian Gussin Paley that fostered the development of the children’s own stories by recording them and then acting them as a group.
In the past, Dan trained and worked professionally as an actor, has written for theatre, as well as written and performed comedy across Canada. These days, when not writing or teaching writing to children through the organization CWC, Dan merrily travels around the country visiting many schools and libraries.
Hiking and travelling are two of his passions. In 2004, he completed the 800 km pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostella in Spain, and more recently, he did the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu in Peru. Cooking, baking and eating the results of said efforts are some of his others pursuits. Dan lives in Vancouver, BC with his wife, artist and goldsmith, Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 27, 2020
Well, that was weird. I have no idea what I just read, but I guarantee it would have little to zero appeal to a little kid.
March 23, 2019
What the actual...?!
Okay, look, picture-book writers. Sometimes you might feel like getting all philosophical, or even turning that weird pepperoni-spurred dream into a picture book. Here's some advice: Don't. If you do, you might end up publishing something like A Fish Named Glub and people will start to question your sanity (and/or possible drug use).
The book uses too many unfamiliar words for something aimed at children. ("Dekes"? Really? My spellchecker doesn't even like that one as I'm typing it.) There are too many idioms and metaphors. And the whole plot point with the fish being able to generate visual representations of others' dreams with an electric current when they stick their fingers in the bowl? Um... what on Earth was the author smoking?
This is just too weird. The illustrations aren't all that appealing, either... but my opinion may have been coloured by the absolutely ridiculous story and pretentious writing.
If this had been published as an adult title, it might've worked. But I really can't see kids liking this one. It's just too weird.
Okay, look, picture-book writers. Sometimes you might feel like getting all philosophical, or even turning that weird pepperoni-spurred dream into a picture book. Here's some advice: Don't. If you do, you might end up publishing something like A Fish Named Glub and people will start to question your sanity (and/or possible drug use).
The book uses too many unfamiliar words for something aimed at children. ("Dekes"? Really? My spellchecker doesn't even like that one as I'm typing it.) There are too many idioms and metaphors. And the whole plot point with the fish being able to generate visual representations of others' dreams with an electric current when they stick their fingers in the bowl? Um... what on Earth was the author smoking?
This is just too weird. The illustrations aren't all that appealing, either... but my opinion may have been coloured by the absolutely ridiculous story and pretentious writing.
If this had been published as an adult title, it might've worked. But I really can't see kids liking this one. It's just too weird.
March 4, 2014
Netgalley ARC
I'm not even sure what to say about this book. I felt that I couldn't truly even follow the story. I had to look back over it after I read it to see what had even happened. The story is confusing and disconnected. The illustrations were not appealing at all. I'm not sure a child would enjoy this book much considering I couldn't even understand what was going on at first.
I rated this 1/5 stars and do not recommend it.
I'm not even sure what to say about this book. I felt that I couldn't truly even follow the story. I had to look back over it after I read it to see what had even happened. The story is confusing and disconnected. The illustrations were not appealing at all. I'm not sure a child would enjoy this book much considering I couldn't even understand what was going on at first.
I rated this 1/5 stars and do not recommend it.
January 14, 2025
Um, this was weird. An existential fish in a bowl. I liked the rhyming at the beginning of each page, but that's basically it. The fish gets powers and shows people their dreams and then the diner guy lives happily ever after on a boat with the woman he's been crushing on while Glub the fish is in the ocean now? Also there are other fish named Glub? Not sure.
February 1, 2014
I received A Fish Named Glub from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley, Kids Can Press, and Dan Bar-el.
Sadly, nothing in this children's book worked for me or my 5 year old daughter. I didn't like the way it was written at all, nor did I enjoy the actual story. It was awkward how the first sentence of every page rhymed and then after that sentence, I could find no rhythm whatsoever to the words. There was nothing whimsical to the story, in fact I found the story to be rather depressing until the last page, which happened so fast I didn't even fully understand how the fish went from the bowl to the ocean and how the man in the story ended up with the woman he adored (and her daughter.) I feel really awful pointing this out, but since it is a review and is supposed to be my honest opinion, I feel an obligation to say that I didn't particularly like the illustrations either, nor did my daughter. I get that it's a children's book and artists can use creativity when drawing people, but something about the way the people were drawn in this book bothered me. I found the colors to be drab and dreary.
Sadly, and my family will not be reading A Fish Named Glub again. I don't think that should stop you from trying it out though. Just because we didn't love it doesn't mean you won't :)
Sadly, nothing in this children's book worked for me or my 5 year old daughter. I didn't like the way it was written at all, nor did I enjoy the actual story. It was awkward how the first sentence of every page rhymed and then after that sentence, I could find no rhythm whatsoever to the words. There was nothing whimsical to the story, in fact I found the story to be rather depressing until the last page, which happened so fast I didn't even fully understand how the fish went from the bowl to the ocean and how the man in the story ended up with the woman he adored (and her daughter.) I feel really awful pointing this out, but since it is a review and is supposed to be my honest opinion, I feel an obligation to say that I didn't particularly like the illustrations either, nor did my daughter. I get that it's a children's book and artists can use creativity when drawing people, but something about the way the people were drawn in this book bothered me. I found the colors to be drab and dreary.
Sadly, and my family will not be reading A Fish Named Glub again. I don't think that should stop you from trying it out though. Just because we didn't love it doesn't mean you won't :)
August 2, 2015
This copy kindly provided by NetGalley on behalf of the publishers.
glub is a fish trying to find his place in the world... and that's about all I got from this one.
the humans characters got a happy ending, & I'm assuming glub did too. but it just felt like we were missing something to me :/
glub is a fish trying to find his place in the world... and that's about all I got from this one.
the humans characters got a happy ending, & I'm assuming glub did too. but it just felt like we were missing something to me :/
November 3, 2019
I'm a little upset that this book was included in the "picture book favorites" on Goodreads along with classics like "Are You My Mother?" etc.
This was sooooo weird. I didn't like the writing style. I didn't really like the illustration style either. The plot was bizarre and way above the heads of the intended audience (kids). What a disappointment.
This was sooooo weird. I didn't like the writing style. I didn't really like the illustration style either. The plot was bizarre and way above the heads of the intended audience (kids). What a disappointment.
June 24, 2017
My baby and I really liked this book! She was yelling and pointing at every page FISH! She like fishes!
For me: "Oh, well. Maybe happiness is like the flu. Some people catch it and some people don't."
For me: "Oh, well. Maybe happiness is like the flu. Some people catch it and some people don't."
November 10, 2015
The illustrations are the only thing that saved this book from a 2 star rating, because the story itself wasn't much without them
December 8, 2023
A fish named Glub by Dan Bar-El is a very different style of book. The illustrations are different , not much imagery but really shows the emotions of the characters, in a way that makes the tone of the story. This story shows how a fish finds his purpose. The questions of who am I, where do I belong. This story may help younger kids answer these questions because of the use of a fish. “Maybe happiness is like the flu. Some people catch it and some people don’t”. This is one of the characters relating to this fish comparing their lives to the flu. At a young age children may have a stuffed animal or something they really love. The use of empathy through a fish may help them understand this concept easier. Everyday Glub listens to these people that are living and realizes he isn't the same. Other characters in this book are trying to find a purpose so they relate to this fish. Also a lot of the characters talk about the fish. “Leave that poor fish alone. Oh, thinks fish. I am Blub all alone”. The fish can hear them, and they don't say very nice things about him. The words in this book make it fun to read. This story's ending is a great way to close it out and show how a man and his family relate a fish to empathy.
July 3, 2023
When an ordinary fish asks himself the big questions in life.... I'm listening.
Especially I'm listening because this is my second picture book by Dan Bar-el. Also, right from the first page I hear myself doing a pretty-barkingly-loud LOL.
As the story proceeds, it's totally off the wall, yet somehow surreally believable. Like when Ma looks into Glub's goldfish bowl, during a moment of crisis, and then Ma begins to tremble:
Why, it's... it's..." trembles Ma,
"it's Gerald B. Willikers, my long-departed
husband, looking as handsome as ever.
How I miss him so. Thank you, fish."
And then there's even a very happy ending. One which I will not divulge because no spoilers from me, no no.
In conclusion, I'll just say FIVE STARS. And thanks, Dan Bar-el, you zany author. And thank you, Josee Bisaillon, illustrator of magnificence.
Especially I'm listening because this is my second picture book by Dan Bar-el. Also, right from the first page I hear myself doing a pretty-barkingly-loud LOL.
As the story proceeds, it's totally off the wall, yet somehow surreally believable. Like when Ma looks into Glub's goldfish bowl, during a moment of crisis, and then Ma begins to tremble:
Why, it's... it's..." trembles Ma,
"it's Gerald B. Willikers, my long-departed
husband, looking as handsome as ever.
How I miss him so. Thank you, fish."
And then there's even a very happy ending. One which I will not divulge because no spoilers from me, no no.
In conclusion, I'll just say FIVE STARS. And thanks, Dan Bar-el, you zany author. And thank you, Josee Bisaillon, illustrator of magnificence.
January 19, 2023
For my children’s literature class! The artwork was neat but the plot overall was a bit confusing and at times it felt hard to follow along. It started with a fish having an existential crisis and then evolved to the fish being able to show people their dreams. There wasn’t a build up to it and felt out of left field and I’m not sure if it will be easy for kids to comprehend. Especially the deep existential crisis and the trying to be philosophical but with no good resolution to that internal conflict.
August 15, 2020
A fish swimming in a goldfish bowl is left in a little cafe'. The fish wonders about his life and purpose as he blows lots of pretty bubbles. Eventually he discovers that he can help people find their dreams when they put their fingers into the bowl. This is a sweet story and brightly illustrated.
January 4, 2018
Great illustrations!
April 8, 2018
This story, about figuring out your place in the world with a slash of magic thrown in.
It reminded me of Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, when the whale suddenly comes into existence.
It reminded me of Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, when the whale suddenly comes into existence.
January 23, 2019
3.5 stars
March 15, 2020
Cute story of a special fish who fills a need for a diner worker and brings a smile to the customers.
September 22, 2021
I don't always read the books ahead of time with our book a day challenge.
Sometimes I regret that. Like today.
Sometimes I regret that. Like today.
April 21, 2022
A precocious fish has an existential crisis. A cute idea for a story (who am I? where did I come from? why am I here?), but the fish was a bit too deep for my child.
August 2, 2023
Story 3
Illustrations 4
Illustrations 4
August 25, 2024
I didn't like the illustration style in this book. The "color" felt wrong for a children's book. Didn't like the story line either for my daughter.
February 14, 2014
This book is all about friendship and the magical gift one little fish, named Glub, has to inspire and encourage people to live out their dreams. The setting is a small diner where ordinary people, employees and patrons alike, go about their mundane life, but buried deep inside of each of them they carry a dream of what if.....?
On the counter is a little fish in a fishbowl who is asking the big questions of life. Who am I? Where did I come from? Where do I belong? You see he was rescued from his original owner who skipped out of the upstairs apartment late at night and abandoned him. He ended up on the counter of this diner and as he observes and listens he acquires a name, Glub. He finds out he is all alone in his world, that he needs food and water to survive, and what a real home is all about, "Home is where the heart lives."
The characters are enthralled with Glub and he brings them happiness and joy. He is a wonderful new dimension added to their dull routine life offering them hope to make their dreams become a reality. Is everyone destined to just carry on and robotically, day after day sleep-walk throughout? What will happen to Glub? Will the characters finally cast their fate to the wind and pursue their dreams that are hidden deep within them? There is a pleasant surprise at the end of the book and the look of libration and freedom on their faces says it all and quite frankly ends the story perfectly.
The illustrations are cartoonish and enrich the lyrical prose. The soft watercolours and bold images will be a hit for sure with the younger readers. This book may ignite the conversation of discussing dreams and heart's desires with each other and that can only be a good thing enabling you to set yourself free to be the real you, the one you were created to be!!!
This book will be released on April 1, 2014.
On the counter is a little fish in a fishbowl who is asking the big questions of life. Who am I? Where did I come from? Where do I belong? You see he was rescued from his original owner who skipped out of the upstairs apartment late at night and abandoned him. He ended up on the counter of this diner and as he observes and listens he acquires a name, Glub. He finds out he is all alone in his world, that he needs food and water to survive, and what a real home is all about, "Home is where the heart lives."
The characters are enthralled with Glub and he brings them happiness and joy. He is a wonderful new dimension added to their dull routine life offering them hope to make their dreams become a reality. Is everyone destined to just carry on and robotically, day after day sleep-walk throughout? What will happen to Glub? Will the characters finally cast their fate to the wind and pursue their dreams that are hidden deep within them? There is a pleasant surprise at the end of the book and the look of libration and freedom on their faces says it all and quite frankly ends the story perfectly.
The illustrations are cartoonish and enrich the lyrical prose. The soft watercolours and bold images will be a hit for sure with the younger readers. This book may ignite the conversation of discussing dreams and heart's desires with each other and that can only be a good thing enabling you to set yourself free to be the real you, the one you were created to be!!!
This book will be released on April 1, 2014.
April 29, 2014
I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.
This is a really sweet book for children that talks about some pretty big concepts. The sweet illustrations and charming text made this a delightful read.
This is a great book for a classroom read aloud. There are several characters giving lots of opportunities for specific voices which children really love.
There are also several conversations that can take place over themes such as loneliness, frienship, acceptance, dreams/goals. Glub considers several times throughout the text; as a preschool educator, I firmly believe that we must model thinking to our young children today. We all think, but as teachers, we can help our students learn to think at a much higher level.
This book is going on my wish list. I read this with my 7 year old and he said "it was good".
This is a really sweet book for children that talks about some pretty big concepts. The sweet illustrations and charming text made this a delightful read.
This is a great book for a classroom read aloud. There are several characters giving lots of opportunities for specific voices which children really love.
There are also several conversations that can take place over themes such as loneliness, frienship, acceptance, dreams/goals. Glub considers several times throughout the text; as a preschool educator, I firmly believe that we must model thinking to our young children today. We all think, but as teachers, we can help our students learn to think at a much higher level.
This book is going on my wish list. I read this with my 7 year old and he said "it was good".
August 13, 2016
I'm not sure what to think about this picture book. On the plus side, the illustrations are gorgeous. The artist has a unique style that I can't help but be drawn to . In fact, the illustrations are what caused me to pick the book up in the first place.
The story is beautifully written and has an interesting message to it. I liked the fish's search for home and his view on the world from inside his glass bowl. However, I'm not sure that kids will like the story. I read it to my kids and they were both confused at the end. While the writing was fun, it was WAY over my kids' heads. They didn't understand what the book was about or what it was trying to say. So I'm going straight down the middle and giving it three stars.
My blog: Batch of Books
The story is beautifully written and has an interesting message to it. I liked the fish's search for home and his view on the world from inside his glass bowl. However, I'm not sure that kids will like the story. I read it to my kids and they were both confused at the end. While the writing was fun, it was WAY over my kids' heads. They didn't understand what the book was about or what it was trying to say. So I'm going straight down the middle and giving it three stars.
My blog: Batch of Books
February 7, 2014
Glub is a fish with many questions: Who is he? Where did he come from? Where does he belong? This sweet little book answers those questions and more. The story is written from the POV of our cute little fish and the answers are many layered. The first time I read it I was a bit nonplussed but waited a few days and read it again. A Fish Named Glub is the kind of story that reveals more upon each new reading and I look forward to buying this book to share with my children. I also enjoyed the lovely watercolour illustrations that added to the sweetness of the story.
(Book received as a ARC through Netgalley)
(Book received as a ARC through Netgalley)
March 28, 2014
Review of A Fish Named Glub by Dan Bar-el
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Age Group: 3-5
Format: eGalley
Glub is a fish that has a lot of questions and he is a precocious one. As any child can tell you, questions are the key to learning about the large world around you. While living in a diner, Glub begins to question a lot about the large world around him. Although I felt this book would be better suited for older children, I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out as one to read during a family storytime. The illustrations were wonderful. All in all, I gave it three out of five stars.
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Age Group: 3-5
Format: eGalley
Glub is a fish that has a lot of questions and he is a precocious one. As any child can tell you, questions are the key to learning about the large world around you. While living in a diner, Glub begins to question a lot about the large world around him. Although I felt this book would be better suited for older children, I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out as one to read during a family storytime. The illustrations were wonderful. All in all, I gave it three out of five stars.
March 29, 2014
I really enjoyed this book -- the illustrations, the cadence, the whole plot idea of a fish with an existential crisis. But--BUT--I'm not sure if children, the target audience for picture books, would enjoy it as much as I did. (I don't have any children of my own at home to test it on.) I might be underestimating kids, though. I'm sure some kids, at least, have wondered, "Who am I?" or "What is home?"
But even if they don't appreciate the story itself, most kids, I'm sure, will appreciate the colorful, whimsical illustrations.
Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.
But even if they don't appreciate the story itself, most kids, I'm sure, will appreciate the colorful, whimsical illustrations.
Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.
March 1, 2014
First of all, the illustrations! Wow! These mixed media collages of cartoonish people and one very expressive fish named Glub surely took hours to create. I was impressed by the storyline and the sophisticated messages behind the beautiful prose as well.
Everyone in the story is missing something from their lives, even the fish named Glub, who had been abandoned by his owner and ends up living in a diner with a young man named Foster. Ultimately, this is a story about making your dreams come true. Glub and Foster both end up exactly where they belong, with the help of a little magic.
Everyone in the story is missing something from their lives, even the fish named Glub, who had been abandoned by his owner and ends up living in a diner with a young man named Foster. Ultimately, this is a story about making your dreams come true. Glub and Foster both end up exactly where they belong, with the help of a little magic.
April 17, 2014
What a sweet story of a fish who finds his meaning in life. I think the simplicity of the story and the repetition will appeal to young kids, yet this story has a deeper meaning as well. Kind of a confusing start to the book on which character is which and how they are related, but I did read this downloaded on my computer so I couldn't see the two page spread which might help with understanding. I love that Glub asks questions which then get answered by the humans around him.
I received a PDF copy of this book for free through NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a PDF copy of this book for free through NetGalley for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews