I Used to Be a Fish

by Tom Sullivan, Tom Sullivan (Illustrator)

Overview

From debut author-illustrator Tom Sullivan comes a surprising and innovative picture book that is both a light introduction to the science of evolution and a tribute to every child’s power to dream big.

In I Used to be a Fish, a boy is inspired by a pet fish and fueled by imagination to tell a whimsical version of his own life story, which mirrors the process of human evolution. Children—and adults—will love the Seussian absurdity of this tale.

The book features a timeline of life on earth and an author’s note, which includes important facts about evolution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062451989
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/11/2016
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tom Sullivan is the author and illustrator of Out There, I Used to Be a Fish, and Blue vs. Yellow. Growing up he loved to read comic books and watch true crime TV shows, and now he feels lucky to be able to combine those interests in Unsolved Case Files. Tom resides with his family in Boston, MA. You can visit him online at www.thomasgsullivan.com.

Tom Sullivan is the author and illustrator of Out There, I Used to Be a Fish, and Blue vs. Yellow. Growing up he loved to read comic books and watch true crime TV shows, and now he feels lucky to be able to combine those interests in Unsolved Case Files. Tom resides with his family in Boston, MA. You can visit him online at www.thomasgsullivan.com.

Editorial Reviews

08/15/2016
Sullivan makes a strong debut with this clever, matter-of-fact, and much-needed look at humanity’s origins. The narrator is a boy who nonchalantly conflates evolutionary biology with his own backstory. He starts with his beginnings in the sea (hence the title) before moving on to his sprouting appendages and fur, and his gradual transformation from tree-swinging primate (who resembles a svelter, furrier Homer Simpson) to modern-day metropolis-dweller and aspiring superhero. Natural selection is in evidence, but for the narrator, the big force propelling humans forward is boredom: “I got tired of swimming,” he observes at the fish phase, and after he transitions from ape to man, “bananas just weren’t cutting it anymore.” Sullivan’s vignettes have a laid-back earnestness, each one a minimalist, sketchlike cartoon, boldly outlined and employing only three colors—bright red, vivid cerulean, and crisp white. An afterword respectfully delves deeper into the science of it all, but irreverence rules the day, and Sullivan proves that, in this regard, he’s a highly evolved talent. Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

With a smart sense of humor and a creative sense of wonder, younger readers are introduced to the cool parts of evolution.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Sullivan’s vignettes have a laid-back earnestness…boldly outlined and employing only three colors-bright red, vivid cerulean, and crisp white. An afterword respectfully delves deeper into the science of it all, but irreverence rules the day, and Sullivan proves that, in this regard, he’s a highly evolved talent.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

With a smart sense of humor and a creative sense of wonder, younger readers are introduced to the cool parts of evolution.

Horn Book (starred review)

10/01/2016
Gr 1–3—In this engaging introduction to the concept of evolution, an unseen narrator describes how he changed from fish to land animal and beyond, eventually becoming a modern boy at the end of the book. Simple, expressive cartoon drawings depict each stage with humor and purpose. Bold lines, plentiful white space, and careful use of just two colors provide clarity and focus throughout the progression. Bright red draws the eye to the featured animal on each page, even when it's only a beard or head of hair. The repeated dot-within-a-circle eyes and consistent composition also support the patterned continuity. The tone is lighthearted but not overdone, with humorous shifts of facial expressions and postures as the world changes with each page turn. When viewers meet the boy at the end, they also spot the pet fish that must have triggered his imaginative musings. Though clearly inspired by evolution, the fanciful story is not an attempt to accurately represent the scientific process, as an author's note confirms. The clever premise and well-conceived visual presentation provide a playful first step into an interesting but potentially daunting topic for younger children. VERDICT A funny, whimsical look at the wonders of evolution and the power of imagination for early elementary collections.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

2016-06-28
Fed up with the aquatic life, a fish ventures onto land, spawning eons of evolutionary change.Bold, striking illustrations—black permanent marker outlines on a plain white background with solid blocks of red and blue—adorn this fanciful tale. As the now-amphibious creature becomes a reptile and then a mammal, it survives the events that kill off the dinosaurs, turns into a primate, walks upright, and finally becomes a white-skinned, red-haired, bearded man. Next come hunting, cave painting, and building structures of increasing complexity. The story ends with a small, white-skinned, red-haired boy dreaming of someday flying, superhero fashion. A timeline and author’s note provide additional information on the science of evolution written at a level far more advanced than the rest of the text. Evolution is, of course, a very complex topic, and Sullivan clarifies that he has written “a fictional story inspired by the science of evolution.” Young readers will get a general sense of the overall development of life forms over time and may be prompted to consider the abilities or characteristics they would like to develop if only wishing could make it so. Due to Sullivan’s choice of palette and style, they will miss the fact of Homo sapiens’ African origins. While the book is visually appealing, the plot is very thin and not likely to inspire demands for rereading. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews