Slapen vissen?

by Jens Raschke, Ingrid Schubert, Dieter Schubert (Illustrator)

Jette is net jarig geweest. Ze is nu tien jaar. Tien! Haar kleine broertje Emiel niet: die blijft voor altijd zes. Hij was zo ziek dat de dokters hem niet konden genezen.
Boven Jette hangen donkere wolken van woede en verdriet. Al zijn er ook fijne herinneringen: aan de vakantie samen met hun ouders, aan de pizzahemel, aan hoe ze begrafenisje speelden. Want Emiel vergeten: dat nooit.
Jette vraagt zich af hoe het leven verder moet, zo zonder Emiel. En eigenlijk zou ze ook wel willen weten waarom de zon zo heet is, of wormen verkouden kunnen zijn en wat er met je gebeurt als je doodgaat. En: slapen vissen eigenlijk?

Genres: Fiction, Juvenile, Death, Childrens, Picture Books, Grief, Middle Grade

49 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, geen zin om een review te posten voor dit boek. Laat maar zitten. Ik weet dat mijn 2019 resolutie was niet geven om commentaar van mensen en gewoon mijn ding doen, maar ja. Het is gewoon rot als mensen mijn reviews uit hun verband rukken. :( Dus hierbij. Misschien als Goodreads me comments laat blocken op reviews als deze (en andere 1/2 rated reviews) dat ik hem weer terugpost, ik heb hem bewaard.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een mooi boek over het overlijden van Emiel. Door de ogen van Jette lezen we hoe zij zich voelt en hoe zij deze tijd ervaart. De eerlijkheid en oprechtheid van Jette raakten mij ook. Hele mooie illustraties die als het ware uitvloeien, ze passen bij het verhaal. Geen boek om te lezen voor de lol, maar het is erg sterk wanneer zo’n situatie zich voordoet. Heel mooi.

[Mireille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal, mooi in z'n eenvoud en mooi met de afbeeldingen van Ingrid & Dieter Schubert.

[Kelly Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book title on the Batchelder Honor List from 2020. I checked out the short chapter book from the library. It's not your typical children's book, but important as well as heartbreaking. This German story, originally a monologue, describes the thoughts of a 10 year old girl whose little brother just died. The author represents the hard questions and the unknowns surrounding death in the protagonist's thoughts about whether or not fish sleep. Not even adults seem to know, so she draws some of her own conclusions, just like she has about what has happened to her little brother. I'm not sure if this could be used in the classroom as it's a very heavy topic. If it were to be used, it would be good for late primary to early intermediate grades, and is probably meant to help children think about death without scaring them. But it was sweetly done and a lovely story that will make you cry.

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful and honest story about death, translated into English because only European writers seem to be able to put out this kind of material. This book by Enchanted Lion Press is beautiful.

[TK421 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. I am at a loss for words. Just read it.

[Mariana Lectora · Rating 4 out of 5]

"¿Duermen los peces?"
Jens Raschke

Para niños mayores de 10 años está recomendado este libro donde nos narran la historia de Jette, una niña de 10 años llamada Jette que ha perdido recientemente su hermanito menor Emil quien falleció después de estar enfermo por mucho tiempo. En pleno proceso de duelo podemos ver de cerca el pensamiento de un niño acerca de la muerte, las dudas que tiene y sus miedos, sobretodo cómo lo abordan los adultos que lo rodean. Para un niño ante una pérdida es de suma importancia tener a un adulto que te acompañe en este proceso de dolor ante algo tan natural que es la muerte. Un libro triste y sublime que ayuda a los niños a comprender todo lo que rodea el duelo.

74/2022
4⭐️

[Sincerely Islay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dit boek heb ik gekocht voor het geval dat ik later, als juf, in mijn eigen klas een sterfgeval heb. Van een familielid of misschien een kind zelf. Ik hoop het nooit nodig te hebben want ik denk niet dat ik het voor kan lezen zonder zelf te huilen.
Bijzondere omschrijving van rouw door de ogen van een meisje die haar broertje verliest. Oprecht en puur, zoals alleen kinderen dat zijn

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy, cute read. Wholesome and cute and sad at the same time. Not memorable enough to be a 4 but still really good :)

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I located this book on the Association for Library Service to Children website. I liked this website because it allowed me to look up the books by a specific award they won, by genre, format, and in multiple other ways. It also explains where the book was originally published and when, as well as the title of the book in the original country’s language. This book is a Mildred L. Batchelder award honor book originally published in Germany in 2017 after experiencing much success as a one-girl play/monologue. The book was translated into English by Belinda Cooper in 2019.

Told in the first-person point of view, Do Fish Sleep? is the story of 10 year old Jette whose 6 year old brother, Emil, passed away about a year ago. Emil had always been sick for as long as Jette can remember, but now he is gone and things will never be the same. The story alternates between Jette recalling moments she had with her brother and family when he was still alive, moments that happened while or directly after he had died, and the present day and how she is managing to cope with it all now. The structure is easy to follow for someone like me as an adult, but I can see how younger students may be confused as to what is happening now and what is a flashback. Jette seems to feel the feelings that are associated with the different stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. She feels guilt as well, because she believed that her mother loved Emil more than her and sometimes she wished Emil wasn't around so she could get some of her family's attention. Throughout the story, Jette also questions and is curious about what happens after someone dies, but none of the adults in her life seem to know, even though they act like they do. Her questioning of what happens after death is tied to the question she has asked her father during a family vacation, which is do fish sleep. In the end, we get her answer to that question, and maybe even her take on what happens after death too, or at least what could be happening to Emil.

This story has so many themes present, including death, growing up before we're ready, life moving on after death, circle of life, and family. This was such a beautiful story, and even though it was a children's book, I found myself tearing up at certain instances during the book. It was so powerful and emotional. This is such a good book to teach students feelings such as empathy, compassion, as well as how to handle difficult situations, such as a death in their family and how to cope with that loss. Jette's thoughts and feelings surrounding death are so poignant and relatable. I just see many of the same things she does and says in the story as things that children experiencing the same thing in life would do. For example, when Jette first gets home when her brother has passed away, she puts her hand on his face and tries to wake him up. She says what she is thinking, sometimes even when it isn't the most appropriate, like when she compares her brother’s sick friend who has lost all his hair to a tadpole when she says “It made him look funny, like a huge tadpole.” Even Jette’s feelings of being upset because her mom spent all her time with her brother and how she’d never have time for her, and her feelings of guilt after her brother has died and how she shouldn’t have been this upset and thought that her mom didn’t love her, are all very relatable and human. I just kept thinking throughout the story that Jette was the same age I was when I first experienced death in my family, and I could see a lot of myself in her throughout the story. From questioning why this had to happen, what happens to people after they die, feeling guilty for still being around and having to move on with your life without this person; these are all so real and raw and this is one of the first books I have ever read for children that deals with this heavy topic in such a relatable and respectful way. As for the diversity in this book, their race, sexual orientation, etc. are not mentioned or explicitly stated. The pictures appear to show them as a typical white family, with normal gender roles, with mom taking care of Emil, and dad not being around so much because he has to work to keep the family together. At the end of the story, Jette does seem to imply that her parents may be getting a divorce or having marital issues, when she explains that her mom and dad have been starting to sleep in separate rooms and when she has asked about it, her dad said it is because he snores, but she doesn't really believe it.

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars out of 5 is because the illustrations leave much to be desired. They are not very detailed and almost look like sketches. They are very one-tone and have a lot of blue and black (which I think signifies water like the rain and when people are crying, as well as loneliness/sadness) and not really many other colors present. There are not a lot of pictures, as this is a book probably best read with children ages 8-12 years old, but the pictures seem to be of some of the most important/emotional moments in the story. For example, there is a picture of when Jette is trying to wake Emil up when he has already passed away on his bed. There is a picture that shows Jette riding in the back of the car in the pouring rain right after they picked out Emil’s casket, with his empty car seat next to her in the car. There is a picture of Jette’s dark rain cloud that she can’t seem to shake after Emil’s death for quite some time until she starts to go to a support group and therapy with other children who have experienced the same thing. So while the pictures aren’t as detailed and colorful as I would love to see in children’s books, I think they help add to the emotion and sadness of the story and I don’t think it would be as emotional or have me in tears as much if the book didn’t have any pictures at all.

I think that although this is such a good book and a beautiful story, I can’t see myself using it in my classroom. This is such a heavy and difficult topic and unless I had a child who was experiencing this same thing, I don’t know if I would feel the need to read this and expose my students to these topics. Especially since I teach very young children, this book handles the topic beautifully, but it would be something that my students would not understand and would have a lot of questions about that I could not answer. I do think this book is useful for older students, in grades 3 or 4 and up. I think this book would be a really great book to help students talk about their feelings/emotions. It shows Jette not being afraid to discuss how her brother’s death has made her feel and this would be good to show students that it is okay to open up about things that may be bothering you or things that you are going through, that are making you feel sad, etc. I mostly think about using this book with my own children one day when they experience death, but as far as classroom use, I struggle to see how this could be incorporated into my classroom other than if I were teaching older students, to just have it on a shelf to expose students to if they would like to read it on their own.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do Fish Sleep? by Jens Raschke illustrated by Jens Rassmus translated from German by Belinda Cooper 61 pages. Enchanted Lion Books 2019 $17.

Content: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jette just turned 10. Her younger brother who had been sick all his life past away about a year ago, and Jette is struggling with her feelings - feelings that her mother loved Emil more, feelings of guilt, feeling like a black cloud. But most of all, not understanding what death is really like - no one can tell her for sure.

I loved Jette's voice - this isn't a sad book, it's real; genuine emotions, realistic questions, and the flashbacks to times spent with her brother were beautiful. Originally produced as a one-girl play, Do Fish Sleep? has been a best seller in Germany for several years - I am so glad this important book has been translated into English and can be part of our collections. Perhaps not a read for everyone, but comforting and poignant in the right hands.

Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Marit Tuik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een treurig boek over de dood van Emiel, gezien door de ogen van zijn zus Jette. Het boek raakt je en ik denk dat het ook een grote rol kan spelen bij de rouwverwerking van kinderen die zoiets echt is overkomen. De prenten zijn gemaakt met waterverf. Ik vind het erg passend bij het thema, soms net of het is uitgelopen door de tranen. De kleuren zijn ook prachtig en passen goed bij het verhaal. Het verhaal is natuurlijk erg triest, maar goed geschreven. Je beleeft het echt vanuit Jette, dat merk je bijvoorbeeld als Emiel en zij begrafenisje gaan spelen of als ze merkt dat papa in een andere kamer slaapt. Het is niet een boek om zo even te pakken voor de lol, maar wel ijzersterk als het (helaas) past bij de situatie.

[Global Literature in Libraries Initiative]

Originally an award-winning play for children, Do Fish Sleep? is a heartbreakingly matter-of-fact look at death for middle grade readers from the perspective of Jette, a 10-year-old whose little brother, Emil, dies during the course of the book. Unsurprisingly, she and Emil are both puzzled about what happens to people after they die—animals, too. When Emil asks his sister, “Do fish sleep?” and “Is being dead like being asleep?” she answers “Maybe. Just that you don’t wake up again.” They then both agree that death and sleep are, in fact, very different...
--------------------------------------------------
To read the full review, visit our website!
https://glli-us.org/2020/08/26/worldk...

[Yvon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat een bijzonder boek!! Een boek gescheven over een moeilijk onderwerp, maar vanuit het perspectief van een 9/10 jarige. Heel mooi beschreven en aangevuld met prachtige illustraties. Zeker de moeite van het lezen waard.

[Moira Macfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

De woorden waren goed, de beelden nog krachtiger.

'Emiels echte begrafenis viel tegen. Het was verschrikkelijk slecht weer. Alles zag grijs: de hemel, de begraafplaats, zelfs de mensen.'

[Justin A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do Fish Sleep? is a tear-jerking story about a girl, Jette, coping with the sickness, death, and burial of her beloved brother, Emil. The book was originally published in German, and was the 2020 recipient of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award.

The illustrations in the book are simple and do their job well. They help set scenes, and are drawn in a way that is accessible to its target audience.

Jens Raschke does a great job in the book of showing the thoughts and feelings of a girl in Jette’s position as she wrestles with familial relations amidst her brother’s sickness and death. Jette’s innocent and wholesome reactions to the world around her are what make this book one that can tug at your heart.

There are two parts of the book that I did not enjoy. The first is the parents in the book are really inattentive to Jette. Although the conflict in the book is certainly one that would see parents pushed to their limits, it didn’t seem like a point of the book to show that, and for kids reading this book that idea might be a little hard for them to comprehend at first read.

Second would be the book’s overall view of death. It was very non-committal to what it means to die and how to process death. Again I could see this being an idea definitely worth exploring in a slightly longer book for kids a little older, I think it could leave a lot of young readers confused.

[Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do fish sleep? It's a good question... if you want to find out the answer you should read this book. But this book is not just about fish. It's about a young girl who grows up with a very sick brother. The genre of this book is listed as fiction. Jette is the main character and the book is written from her perspective. Jette is a ten year old girl who grows up with her mom, dad, and brother. Her brother was very sick and at age six he dies. Jette is a curious child who wants to know what happens to someone after they die. This book could take place in any year and any place (non-specific.) I think people ages 10-13 would like this book. An interesting part of this book is when Emil and Jette play "funeral" and decide that if Emil dies he should have a coffin that people can write or draw on. I like this book because it is good to know how hard it can be to lose a loved one. This is a small book with a big impact.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jette just turned 10. Her younger brother who had been sick all his life past away about a year ago, and Jette is struggling with her feelings - feelings that her mother loved Emil more, feelings of guilt, feeling like a black cloud. But most of all, not understanding what death is really like - no one can tell her for sure.

I loved Jette's voice - this isn't a sad book, it's real; genuine emotions, realistic questions, and the flashbacks to times spent with her brother were beautiful. Originally produced as a one-girl play, Do Fish Sleep? has been a best seller in Germany for several years - I am so glad this important book has been translated into English and can be part of our collections. Perhaps not a read for everyone, but comforting and poignant in the right hands.

[Charlotte Liggitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "Do Fish Sleep?" is a good book to help young children get past losses they have or might experience. In this book the main character has a brother who has always been sick, and recently he has passed away. This book is how she is able to come to terms with the death of her brother. This book is really important for children to read because everyone experiences loss, whether is it when they are younger or older, the concept is always a difficult one to understand and this book makes it easier to accept what has happened.

[Christopher Ramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very sad but also uplifting, so it deserves a perfect rating. The whole book ties together amazingly. The white space around the illustrations gives the idea of a lot of time and space to think, which is what the main character has to do when she contemplates important questions like where her brother is and if fish sleep. This is a book that I think adults could read and get something out of and is a good first serious book for a child to read. It is sad and it is thought provoking but it is very good.

[Morgan Allwine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. It is not just a story about fish. I feel as if many children struggle with understanding death, so this book is great for showing children that they are not alone in that. I would not say this book is a sad one, rather it is very real and Jette's feelings of confusion, grief, and guilt are represented throughout the story. This book would be very comforting to children who have lost a loved one.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a touching and realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of grief. I don't know why children seem to be more okay than adults with questions that have no answers, but I related to Jette. Her brother Emil has died after a long illness, and there are no good answers. No one, no matter how strong their faith, really KNOWS what happens after we die. But while this is sad, it is also darkly funny and poignant and full of happy memories of a boy who's life was too short. It is just so good.

[Anjali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a clear voice of wondering and so many emotions around the death of a young sibling, simply related in an almost brutal way, which makes it feels all the more real because that’s how kids are, in my experience. As someone still grieving the death of my father, I appreciated the directness.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

10-year-old Jette relates the circumstances and death of her younger brother to cancer. The 60-page novel covers the related questions in the manner of kids that age. It's just one view point. I wish we had more to offers readers, to help them process so many parts of this journey. This may not be just the thing everyone needs, but it's definitely getting closer.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this version is written as a prose story, it was originally performed as a one-girl play & it still has much of that feel about it. The title is what had caught my attention, knowing nothing about the book, but I found the story a generally good one about dealing with death & the ups & downs of grief

[Stephanie Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

SAD. 😞 Excellent for a play. Would like to see this performed. But yes, it is just sad from start to finish. It has a thought provoking ending. I love this children’s graphic novel. It’s beautiful and would be a lovely pick for discussing a difficult subject matter. I’d maybe recommend this for a children’s group therapy session on grief.

[Judy Galluzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and real book about how a child sees death and life. I read this to my kids and honestly did not know it was about death until I started reading it. They really liked it and when asked if they thought it was sad they said “no.” I on the other hand had to fight hard not to cry while reading it.

[Andrew Eder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very real and special account of a child who lost their sibling. It puts the situation into very kid-friendly language in away that that adults can really connect, too. This is a very special and unique read.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book (like an early chapter book?) about being the surviving sibling of a child who dies.

The sibling is turning 10, so mostly aimed at kids around that age. The sibling who died was 3 years younger and was sick for a long time with cancer.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written, tender and sad chapter book about death for early elementary. Might be helpful to kids experiencing a death in the family, or as a reminder to adults that kids may grieve differently than adults.