Big Al and Shrimpy

by Andrew Clements, Yoshi Kogo (Illustrator)

Overview

Poor Shrimpy! He may be the smartest fish in the sea, but he's also the smallest. Who would want to be friends with such a teeny, tiny fish? Big Al, that's who! Big Al remembers what it feels like to to be an outsider, and he and Shrimpy become best friends. And when Big Al finds himself in danger, it's Shrimpy's smart thinking that saves the day — and wins Shrimpy the respect and affection of other fish.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416903666
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/01/2005
Series:	Big Al Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Andrew Clements (1949–2019) was the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he was nominated for a multitude of state awards, including a Christopher Award and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He was also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. Find out more at AndrewClements.com.

Editorial Reviews

Clements gives the ugly-but-brave hero of Big Al (1990) a tiny-but-clever buddy in this companion volume. While the other fish play tag, Big Al and his diminutive new friend venture to the edge of the dark, scary Big Deep. When a rock traps Big Al and carries him over that edge, it's up to Shrimpy to organize a rescue. Just as Clements's new text echoes his previous one in tone and construction, so Yoshi again uses paint, batik, and embroidery to create blue-lit, deeply shadowed seascapes, populated by brightly colored tropical fish and flora. How Shrimpy persuades the other fish to follow him down into the Big Deep is never made clear, so the episode's internal logic isn't quite as watertight as that in Leo Lionni's Swimmy (1966)-still, it's good to see Big Al back, and children are always receptive to the idea that size isn't everything. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal There is magnificence to Yoshi's work that matches Clements' international story of friendship.

From the Publisher