Little Amy Scott got a goldfish for her birthday and was so disdainful that she dumped him, plastic bag and all, into the sea. Sherman brings this distressing news to his pal Sadie, who immediately gears up for a fish rescue. "The important thing," Sadie says, "is that Ellsworth stays hopeful and brave, knowing that we're on our way." "Hey, Sadie, wait!" calls Sherman, "Who's Ellsworth?" Sadie responds without even looking up from her maps: "Sherman, you have to keep up. Every fish deserves a proper name." Sadie and Sherman, along with a literal band of monkeys, face the dangers of the ocean with a heroic determination to find lonely Ellsworth. Along the way, they outfit a welcome boat, hit the zoo for 21 pink balloons and have a near-miss with a giant squid.
Philip C. Stead and Matthew Cordell (Special Delivery) offer a perfect blend of adventure and silliness on the high seas. The main characters are charming and beautifully balanced with each other. Sherman's earnest kindness works perfectly with Sadie's snap decisions and forward motion. Illustrator Cordell's detailed and playful drawings beg for repeat readings. Kids will enjoy looking at realistically rendered sharks or spotting the fact that the monkeys are quietly bankrolling the expedition with bananas. As for a moral, Stead doesn't feel the need to punish the fish-endangering Amy Scott, but he does make it clear that no one will be hanging out with her in the future. The Only Fish in the Sea is a rollicking little adventure in the name of doing the right thing. --Ali Davis, freelance writer and playwright