Big Al

The theme for my library's summer reading program is Splish Splash Read! So I picked out this picture book to read for my storytimes and when I visit schools to promote the summer reading program.

Big Al is a big fish with bumpy skin and sharp teeth. Even though he is a nice fish, his appearance scares all the other fish away. So Big Al is lonely and doesn't have any friends. But then something happens so that Big Al can prove how brave and nice he is, and by the end **spoiler alert** Big Al has more friends than everybody else.

The illustrations by Yoshi are great. The children really feel sorry for Big Al when he is sad and lonely. I like to bug my eyes out when Big Al puffs himself up, but I'm still working on a good sneeze for when Big Al sneezes. It has to be a big sneeze, but I don't want to spray the kids.

I've been reading it to preschoolers and up through third graders. At the end of the story I ask "And now there is one fish who has more friends than anybody else. And do you know who that is?" And everybody yells, "Big Al!"