Window Fishing

by D.K. Dyson, Rudy Gutierrez (Contributor)

A heartwarming story about finding joy in art and intergenerational friendship illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Rudy Gutierrez.

Rudeday dreams of creating art that brings people joy but instead, he paints to pay the bills. His days and nights are long, until one day he hears a Tap! Tap! Tap! at his window. What could it be? Rudeday sees a piece of string with a paper clip tied to the end of it, coming from the apartment upstairs. Rudeday has a brilliant idea.
Rudeday carefully paints a fish and attaches it to the paper clip, starting a window-fishing exchange with a little boy upstairs. The pair swap paper fishes back and forth every day. Rudeday is finally painting for fun but he wonders if he will ever meet his window-fishing friend.
A heartwarming story that celebrates art, friendship, and community that is sure to pull at your heartstrings.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Mavis’s Dad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mavis picked out Window Fishing at the library, most likely because of its colorful abstract art. The story was an interesting take on urban fishing.

Moral: You never know where people will discover your art.

Length: The author wanted to hammer home the point that the artist was a person of color, so it’s wordy in some unnecessary ways that don’t impact the story. With repeated readings, I’d skip some of those pages.

Favorite Line: “Rudeday could draw anything! He paints pictures for magazines, newspapers, music albums, and even cereal boxes, but he complained about them all.”

Overall Impression: Rudeday is a miserable artist who wants to be famous and popular and forgets what he got into art for. Amir is the young boy upstairs whose fishing game inspires Rudeday to find fun and purpose again. It’s an age-old tale that is quite fun. We’re lucky to have shared in this story - even if it was a few pages too long. I think I’ll go watch Finding Forrester now, since the plots are so similar.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. It was a nice story about both art and friendship. I will say that the main character is not a super loveable main character, but he got a bit better as the book progressed. The cover art is very vivid in color, but there is just too much going on. It may draw in readers with the colorful cover, but I don't think the artwork throughout will keep them invested. The illustrations are everywhere throughout the book, and not exactly in a good way. The orientation of the book changes occasionally on several pages, so you are left flipping the book back and forth quite a bit. One thing that I really didn't like was the fact that the text in the book was all different kinds/sizes of fonts. Between the various fonts and the illustrations, it wasn't super appealing. As far as the illustrations go, it has a little bit of everything - mixed media, colored pencils, acrylic, crayons, and digital.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Amir connects with his downstairs neighbor, Rudeday, a dissatisfied artist who hates having to paint in order to earn money for bills rather than painting to bring joy to others, both of their lives are changed for the better. The relationship begins in a most unusual way when Amir sends down a paper clip on a string, and Rudeday responds with some artwork. This goes on for several days, and when the two finally meet, Rudeday has become famous, and others in the city are also window fishing for art. A strangely satisfying story even though it's probably unlikely, this picture book is filled with text emulating various sounds and artwork, created with brightly colored mixed media illustrations with some digital assistance. Who would have imagined that such a simple game or activity could connect two strangers in such a way?

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

DK Dyson and her partner Caldecott Honor illustrator Rudy Gutierrez create this picture book that celebrates art and friendship. The story tells how a frustrated artist's life is changed when an empty paper clip attached to a string taps his fourth story window from a dropped from a neighbor from above. The artist attaches one of his creations (a beautiful fish) and sends it back up to his neighbor. Cleverly the book uses switches in format from horizonal to vertical to show the art moving from one person to the other. The window fishing friends finally meet and discover the impact of their simple gesture of joy and how it has spread across the community. Beautifully illustrated with pictures that combine realistic and fantasy elements in bright colors.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a reminder to take time to be part of others' lives. This artist focuses solely on work until someone interrupts him one day. He finds a paperclip on a string outside his window and decides to play. He draws a black and white fish and sends it on its way. To his surprise, the next day, the fish is returned in full color. Thus begins a daily time of connection even though he doesn't know who he is connected to. By the end of the story, he not only meets the child but sees what the child has done with all the colorful fish. Lovely story about connection and finding balance.

[Bernard Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

#BernardReads | BOOK REVIEW 📚

Window Fishing by D. K. Dyson and Rudy Gutierrez 🐟

I bought this on a sale because I wanted to read more big children’s books.

This was created by a husband and wife tandem. It’s very short. Well, it’s aimed for Kinder to Grade 1 students.

It has its psychedelic and mesmerizing illustrations. The story was interesting as well. Ot think it needs more context but it served its purpose well. The theme of friendship and community was there. The art was interesting as well. I’m sure young readers could be inspired by it. It shows how the creators love art, music, and partnership.

#bookrecommendations #BookReview

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vibrant and delightful, this is a book that hums with energy, culture, and creativity.

I also love the idea of "window fishing" as a more creative, not to mention kinder to animals, option to hooking real fish! That's the real thrill of fishing for kids after all--not knowing what you've caught, and "window fishing" perfectly captures that experience.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story of this book which I think could have fun classroom applications. The artwork is classic Rudy Gutierrez and is very vibrant, colorful, and whimsical. The book has a lot of movement which adds to the playfulness. Rudy Gutierrez's style isn't necessarily my favorite, but I do think it is working really well here.

[A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The text was very specific in a way that I suspect will not appeal to kids. Based on a personal story: wife = author, husband = illustrator, based loosely on a window fishing exchange that actually happened in their building.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
An artist is feeling creative block until a tap at the window inspires a little window fishing. Bright bold colors make this appealing and fun.

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Wonderful story, amazing illustrations!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 3.5 stars. It's an adorable idea and the art had movement and excitement but maybe it was a bit too wordy. I think it will be a fun read to share.

[Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearing story nicely told. Superior art style and illustrations. Meritorious.

[Gama Valle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely!

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary and up book about an artist and a boy inspiring each other through secret messages.

[Y.Poston]

a fun story about how art can help people
feel better

[Jaxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best illustrated childrens books I’ve read !!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really lovely! I would've guessed it was from the 90s or earlier with its art style, but I thin that's a really fun change from what you typically see in picture books these days.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/25/2025 ~ As with so many books, there is more to notice on re-readings. The main character's name and image seems so much like the actual illustrator. It's also interesting to note that the author is spouse to the illustrator.

1/28/2024 ~ Whimsical. Full of love - random acts of kindness really make a difference in people's lives.