Good Day's Fishing

by James Prosek

Overview

The bestselling author of Trout and Fly-Fishing the 41st, James Prosek, tells the story of a good day's fishing in this beautiful picture book, illustrated with the author's own gentle watercolors.

What I need for a good day's fishing is in here somewhere....
What's the secret to a good day's fishing?
Bright sun.
Cool breeze.
Favorite rod and reel.
Tackle box with bobbers,
hooks, and sinkers.
But we haven't gotten
to the secret...yet.

For those who want to learn more about how to fish, there's a comprehensive glossary of lures and flies in the back of the book. A Good Day's Fishing will make a fisherman or fisherwoman out of anyone — even a first-timer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689853272
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	03/01/2004
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	460L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 10 Years

About the Author

James Prosek began his writing career at the age of twenty with Trout, An Illustrated History when he was still a student at Yale University. His other books include Joe and Me: An Education in Fishing and Friendship, The Complete Angler: A Connecticut Yankee Follows in the Footsteps of Walton, and Fly-Fishing the 41st: Around the World on the 41st Parallel. He wrote and co-produced a Peabody Award-winning fishing documentary on ESPN. His first venture into children's books, A Good Day's Fishing, followed his adult books' footsteps in its popularity. He lives next to a fishing pond in Easton, Connecticut. Visit James at his website www.jamesprosek.com.

Editorial Reviews

Prosek, whose earlier books (Trout; Fly-Fishing the 41st) have made quite a splash with adult anglers, will hook youngsters who have experienced-or long to experience-the lure of this pastime. "This is my tackle box. What I need for a good day's fishing is in here somewhere!" exudes the young narrator, whom readers spy only on the half-title page and two concluding illustrations. On the pages in between, Prosek's spare, realistic watercolors focus closely on the contents of the boy's tackle box and the type of fish that each item helps him catch. The artist's painstakingly detailed style incorporates the subtle as well as striking hues of the species against generous white space. Other fishing tales inspire full-bleed spreads of the species' habitat ("I hooked a crappie, too,/ but it got away!"), and some humor surfaces when the boy's search turns up some unexpected articles-an old sandwich and an eel ("How'd he get in here?"). Eventually, readers learn which is the crucial, missing accoutrement: his fishing hat. In the annotated, illustrated lure and fly glossary that follows the breezy tour of the tackle box, the author explains how and when each is used, shares tidbits from his personal experience and imparts some folksy advice ("Spending time on the water is the only way to become an effective fisherman or fisherwoman [unless you were born lucky]"). This cheerful handbook may well entice kids to seek out their own good day's fishing. Ages 5-10. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 3-The author of the decidedly handsome adult book Trout (Knopf, 1996) turns his careful pen and deft paintbrush to an equally handsome work for children. Here, a young narrator conveys his love of fishing by describing the contents of his tackle box and identifying the species that each lure is designed to catch. A spinner (for perch), flies "tied from furs and feathers" (for trout), and a variety of hooks ("Aren't they cool?") are among the equipment presented in the very brief text and luminous watercolors. At the end, the child digs out the item most essential for "a good day's fishing"-"my hat." A five-page glossary carefully defines the wide variety of lures portrayed, from spinners to spoons, dry flies to jigs. This title will appeal to readers who enjoyed such offerings as William T. George's attractive Fishing at Long Pond (Greenwillow, 1991; o.p.) and Nina Kidd's suspenseful June Mountain Secret (HarperCollins, 1991; o.p.), but are not yet ready for the complexities of Jim Arnosky's colorful Freshwater Fish & Fishing (Scholastic, 1982) or his personal Flies in the Water, Fish in the Air (HarperCollins, 1986; o.p.). Prosek's book is a special treat that may lure to the surface the ever-hopeful fisherperson lurking in youngsters' inner depths.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

As a young boy searches through all the paraphernalia in his tackle box for the one thing to ensure a good day's fishing, he explains the purpose of each item: a spinner to catch yellow perch; a phoebe spoon for pumpkinseed sunfish; plugs for largemouth bass; and flies for his favorite fish, brook trout. The handsome page design uses lots of white space to highlight the gear that offsets the beautiful double spreads of fish. The first-person voice and comments to the reader ("hooks-aren't they cool?") create an immediacy akin to looking over the boy's shoulder, especially since he's not pictured until the last spread-sporting the secret thing he needs for good fishing. Several pages earlier, sharp-eyed readers will see the clue. An inventive and enticing approach to a sport and nature topic cast in a narrative. The personal tone and boyish charm will lure kids to fishing and grandfathers will love it. Prosek is an established adult author and expert on fishing. (Four-page lure-and-fly glossary) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews