Paul Meets Bernadette

by Rosy Lamb

Visual humor sweetens an artful tale about a fish who suddenly sees everything a new way — thanks to a charismatic companion.

Paul is a fish who used to go around in circles. He made big circles and little circles. He circled from left to right and from right to left. He circled from top to bottom and from bottom to top. What else was there to do? Until one day Bernadette drops in and shows Paul that there is a whole world out there, right outside his bowl, with so many things to see. A banana-shaped boat! A blue elephant with a spoutlike trunk (be quiet when she’s feeding her babies)! A lovely lunetta butterfly, with tortoise-shell rims! Simple saturated paintings play off this charming ode to an active imagination — and the way that life changes when a bewitching creature opens your eyes.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2013

About the author

Rosy Lamb is a painter and sculptor. She lives in a studio with tall windows on a quiet street in Paris. Paul Meets Bernadette is her first children’s book. She painted the pictures for this book while her baby daughter slept by her side.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet, unusual story. The oil-paint illustrations really make it!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul was a goldfish who swam in circles. What else was there for him to do, as the sole resident of such a small bowl? Then one day he met another goldfish, Bernadette, who pointed out all of the fascinating things around them, showing him "the world." As he begins to truly look at the things around his bowl, Paul's horizons expand, as does his heart. Soon he is swimming around and around again, this time circling Bernadette...

A debut from author/illustrator Rosy Lamb, Paul Meets Bernadette is a lovely little picture-book, one which pairs a narrative that can be read a number of different ways with gorgeous illustrations, done in oil paint. Child listeners will no doubt be amused by the misidentification of various objects, on the part of Paul and Bernadette - a vase of flowers becomes a forest, when seen through the prism of the bowl glass, while a banana becomes a boat - while adult readers will appreciate the emotional undercurrents, as a lonely being finds a new purpose in life through love. For my part, I enjoyed both text and artwork immensely, although I did feel (as I always do) that there is something a little cruel about keeping fish in small bowls with nothing to occupy them. Although not a great fish-lover, they are beings, not decorations! Leaving that aside - and it is more of a criticism of a widespread behavior, than of the book, which simply depicts it - this is a picture-book I would recommend to those looking for amusing and thought-provoking tales for youngsters, for picture-books that address perspective, or for beautiful illustrations.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul swims around and around all day until Bernadette drops in and shows him the world, although her ability to correctly name things in the world is lacking.

I don't think young children will really "get it," but they will enjoy Bernadette's misnaming common everyday objects.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's time for a new adage to go alongside don't judge a book by its cover:

Don't judge a children's book without a child.

I picked this up for the library because it was the only one of the five nominees for the California Young Reader's Medal that we didn't already own. I read it. I liked it. But I wondered how it possibly came to be nominated for that award, which is for books that are requested time and again by children. (As my students are delighted to learn, what an adult thinks doesn't matter one bit for this award; the short list is made up of those books that children ask for most, and only children vote to choose the final winner). This book, while delightful and gorgeous, struck me as rather grown-up: more about falling in love and seeing the world through someone else's eyes than anything else. It just didn't strike me as inherently appealing to kids.

And then I read it aloud to a group after group of kindergarteners, and they screamed with laughter. Yes, screamed -- and I mean that literally. They absolutely loved it, for different reasons than I did.

It's no surprise that the best children's books work on many levels. It's just sometimes a surprise which ones they are.

[Jeremy West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul is a lonely goldfish living his life in a bubble. Literally. He's so entranced in his daily routine of swimming around, up, and down, that he never looks outside his bowl. That is until the day Bernadette arrives. She opens his eyes to the world around him in a hilarious way that only goldfish can understand the outside world. To her, a teapot is an elephant, a newspaper is a lady's dress, and more that will make you laugh out loud. After noticing everything around them, Paul truly notices Bernadette and sees her in a different light. This story, beautifully illustrated on oil canvas, will resonate with families and children keeping them engaged as they read and teaching the power of seeing another's perspective.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the small format compared to the sea of presumptuous oversize picturebooks... this is more like the size of an old primer. The art is lovely, looks even better irl than on youtube. The main message is actually, I believe, rather simple... a new friend is someone who opens your eyes to new visions, new experiences... and of course I value that!

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul is a fish who just circles his bowl, over and over again in different patterns. But his life changes when Bernadette joins him in his bowl. She shows him the world beyond his bowl. They can see boats, forests filled with colorful trees, a cactus, and even an elephant with babies. Of course, what they are thinking they see isn’t really what is there. The objects are far more mundane: bananas, flowers, a clock and a teapot and cups. Paul’s entire world expanded and made room for the outside world but most especially for Bernadette.

Lamb’s book combines a gentle humor with a warm charm. It is a story about the power of one person to open the other’s vision and imagination. It is about transformation but also being able to transform while staying right where you are. Lamb’s illustrations are done in paint, daubed thick enough at times to add plenty of texture to the images. The colors are subtle, the globe the fish live in almost bubble-like as it floats on the page.

This delightful picture book will have young readers wondering what Paul and Bernadette would see in their room too. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=3702

This is a special book about thinking outside of your world and exploring. I think it is a good book for young and old because it makes you think about what you are missing out on by limiting yourself. It also is fun because Bernadette isn’t sure of her surroundings as they are new to her, and she makes up fun stories about the things she sees. This would be so much fun to do with young readers. But what pushes this book above many other picture books are its beautiful illustrations. You will not be disappointed.

[Erin (work) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's an interesting book. The brush work really reflects movement, time, fluid, swoosh--great match of form & subject. That said, I didn't like the paint was used in some sections--the flowers were so clumpy that it is almost painful for me to look at that page. I don't think it's text is any more clever or outstanding than lots of other children's 'mistaken naming' books--and Paul's love for Bernadette feels very adult-romantic.

I don't think it should be on the ACL distinguished list

[Deitre]

Paul Meets Bernadette Paul Meets Bernadette is a beautifully illustrated book about a fish named Paul who spends his days swimming in circles alone until the day Bernadette drops into his bowl.

To read the rest of the review, simply follow the link: http://www.aleisuremoment.com/2014/04...

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gorgeous! The painting are lovely. The story is wonderful. I'm pretty sure my next two golfish will be called Paul and Bernadette, along with a lot of other goldfish who will be purchased after reading this book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie read to me.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! Love! Love this book!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet tale perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day storytimes or explanations of love, Paul’s life is forever changed when Bernadette is added to his fishbowl. He simply swam in circles until she appeared and showed him the wonders outside their world (uhm..bowl). In comical set-ups that will have children guessing and correcting, Bernadette identifies items like a clock as a cactus or a teapot as an elephant. But much like love, is it wrong if that’s how you see the world? Beauty shines throughout this quiet story and the author’s illustrations brilliantly demonstrate that love is not blind, but we all see things differently and this is one emotion that unites us. Highly recommended.

[Brigitte Brulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the fact that this little fish doesn't notice anything around him until a new friend arrives and shows him "the world". Just like kids may not realize there is a bigger world out there beyond their own little world. I really liked the "elephant feeding her babies" and the various other interesting items that Bernadette tells Paul about (even if they are not accurate). I was a little disappointed with the ending, but overall, I thought it was a cute book.

[Indy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An artsy story book with beautiful paintings as illustration. Paul is a fish living inside a fish tank. He lives his life rather aimlessly every day swimming in all directions, until a new fish, Bernadette, joins him in the fish tank. Bernadette opens Paul's world by encouraging him to take a look outside the fish tank, and let their imagination run wild. A sweet little story that foster kids to be creative and imaginative whilst paying more attention to the surrounding.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has beautiful painted illustrations. The story of Paul meeting Bernadette is enchanting. Paul swam in circles and was getting bored and then his whole world changes the day Bernadettedrops into his bowl. Bernadette challenges him to see life beyond the fishbowl and to question everything with a sense of wonder and curiosity. A great find for anyone who's been inspired by a friend or partner to see new possibility in each day.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

*The last few months of the year I've been "superhero'ed" out, so I know I won't make my usual 200-book goal unless I get creative. And by that, I mean children's books. I'm a librarian, so it's good for me to have some kids' books in my repertoire, too, right? (Okay, I might be slightly cheating, but... some of the kids' books I've read, I've really enjoyed, so I'm actually glad for a reason to cheat, lol).*

A sweet little book all about perspective.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagination, goldfish, oil paintings, romance, breakfast.

I like the simple illustrations. So much is conveyed within the curves and reflections. We don't always realize what we are missing until we have someone to show us a new perspective. Life gets more complex and exciting.

[Kate Nichter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Meets Bernadette is a fun way to teach kids new language that is basic but important such as up, down, bottom, top, right, left. The children can have fun going along with the motions in the book. The illustrations have a texture of paint brush strokes.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all loved this one, kids and teacher alike! As Bernadette explained to Paul what he was seeing all around him, the kids LOVED being "in the know" about what an object really was (not a boat, but a banana!). Superb illustrations!

[Michele Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are wonderful oil paintings. The story is delightfully silly as Bernadette shows Paul the world and misidentifies the things they see (a tea pot is an elephant and the tea cups are her babies). A fun read with kinders as they shout out the correct name of things.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures! This is great for getting kids to use their imaginations and for drawing associations between what is the same and what is different. It would be very easy to integrate this into a storytime.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because two fish played together and fell in love❤️.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul is a fish who simply swims in a continuous circle. Until he meets Bernadette, who teaches him to look outside his world. But her world is a little weird.

[Dax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty and adorable!

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very very cute.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A goldfish has his horizons expanded when a new goldfish is pit into his bowl.

I thought this was a sweet / clever illustrated short story.

Reading time around fifteen minutes.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes you think in new perspectives. I think how a child looks at the world sometimes- with curiosity and big stories to compliment what they see. I enjoyed the illustrations as well.

[Sarah Daniluk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely artwork and a brilliant new way to look at the world.