The Library Fish Learns to Read

by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Gladys Jose (Illustrations)

Library Fish returns in this charming picture book about the unusually literary fish learning to do what everyone around her loves—read!

Library Fish is very happy in her bowl on Mr. Hughes the librarian’s desk. From there, she listens to story time and watches Mr. Hughes teach children the alphabet. He says the alphabet is made of letters, letters make sounds, blending those sounds together makes words, and words make stories.

Library Fish wants to read, too! She starts jumping out of her bowl to practice when the library closes at night. Can Library Fish become a reader all on her own?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Books About Books, Fiction, Storytime, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2023

About the author

Alyssa Satin Capucilli was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, and pursued her interest in dance, becoming a professional dancer and dance instructor. Though Capucilli had written stories, poems, and even puppet shows as a child, she didn't consider a career as a writer until after her own two children were born. To this day she sees herself as both a dancer and a writer, and the two professions complement each other nicely: dancing is, in her words, “telling stories in another way,” and readers of her children's books can attest to the rhythm of her language. Since 1994, she has written more than 15 books for children, and her work has been translated into French, Hebrew, Afrikaans, Greek, and Bulgarian.

Capucilli lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with her husband and children. They have a chocolate Labrador retriever named Huckleberry, who likes to watch the author at work.

Reviews

[Katherine Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library Fish is inspired to learn to read. Adorable book with fantastic illustrations.

[Melissapalmer404 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library Fish is back and learning how to read at night when the library is closed. She reads to herself, along with kids and to her friend the bookmobile. Cute picture book.

[Nathan Bartos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of wordy for a picture book when the first one was not. Also, not to be too picky, but I don't think The Library Fish and this books like...make sense chronologically. But regardless, this was okay overall about a library fish learning to read with the help of his friend, the bookmobile.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I am a reader”—three of the most powerfully life-changing words in the whole, wide world! Though too text heavy for the target audience, this story presents a positive image of libraries and librarians and promotes a valuable lesson about the importance of reading, even by dogs and fish—and perhaps the bookmobile too. Imaginative illustrations of the plucky little fish with a big thirst for stories.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't miss the portions of the story written in to the illustrations on each page. Love this touch by Jose. Capucilli captures the fun and challenge of learning to read. Each night Library Fish works hard to master a new reading skill. She starts with the alphabet and works up to reading an entire story. She does this by night and welcomes readers to the library during the day. I appreciate how she shares her reading with Bookmobile. Lovely story to encourage readers to keep going.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this second book about Library Fish, she decides she wants to learn to read. Readers who enjoyed the first book will appreciate the update on her library adventures and her love of books. It takes some effort but Library Fish teaches herself to read and shares her struggles with her friend Bookmobile. A sweet celebration of books, reading, and libraries.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Mr. Hughes keeps Library Fish on his desk, but the fish also gets to come to story times, and is thrilled to hear all of the new stories. Determined to learn how to read for herself, Library Fish hatches a plan. When Mr. Hughes leaves for the evening, she springs into action, jumping out of her bowl while wearing an interesting glass bubble filled with water on her head. She teachers herself the alphabet, then practices with short books. Working hard every night, she keeps on with her practice until soon she is able to spell words like BUBBLE. Eventually, she learns to read well enough, and hopes to help others with their attempts to learn.

The illustrations have some fun, quirky elements, like bits of typed excepts appearing on people's sleeves and the covers of books, and there is even a bookmobile parked outside with headlights that are anthropomorphized to look like eyes with eyelashes! There are lots of colors, but they are a bit more muted, with a lot of black pencil outlines that give them a lot of depth. I liked how some of the scenes were drawn in round bubble shapes and placed on a white background.

Library Fish's enthusiasm for every aspect of reading is fantastic to see, and this would be a great title to use in story times with pre kindergarten students, to entice them to try their own hands at reading. This is a good outline for the different skills one needs for reading, and even mentions that the pictures in the books give Library Fish some context for their meaning when she is not able to recognize the word when sounding it out.

I haven't been all that successful in teaching my dogs to read, so I tend just to read the books to them, but young children just starting out can find a variety of animals who are going through the same experience in books like How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hill, The Perfect Seat by Minh Lê, illustrated by Gus Gordon, The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Kate Berube, and How to Teach Your Slug to Read by Susan Pearson.

[Prince William Public Libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a fish living in her fishbowl at the library. She's happy living at the library, watching the people come and go. She loves listening to the stories read to the children at Story Time. One day, the librarian reads "Dog Loves to Read" to the kids. Library Fish decides that she's going to learn, too. After the library closes for the night, she starts learning the alphabet. Every night, she practices reading with all the books in the library. Finally, after a lot of hard work and practice, she can read a whole story. She is so happy that she decides to teach her friend Book Mobile how to read, too.

The pictures bring this story to life. I like that the book promotes libraries and the Love of Reading.

- Review by Diane E., Bull Run Library Staff

Click here to find the book at Prince William Public Libraries.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Library Fish loved her home on the desk of Mr. Hughes, the librarian. It was the perfect place to welcome every visitor to the library. From where she sat, Library Fish could check each book that was borrowed and returned.

Premise/plot: Library Fish, the library pet of Mr. Hughes, learns to read in this second picture book adventure. Library Fish commits fully to this learning-to-read process. And it starts with learning the alphabet and the sound each letter makes. Who will Library Fish read to??? Readers of the first book may just guess!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It was just as cute and silly--imaginative--as the first. I continued to enjoy all the illustrations. The library scenes are just as charming as ever. I will say that this one is VERY text heavy.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a library - amazing subject.

This is about the fish that lives at the library and watches all the books get checked out by people. It is a love letter to the library.

The fish is very cute and it wears a glass bubble so it can get out of it's fishbowl and read books. I can almost guarantee that as a child, my nephew would have love this fish. Well, the niece would too. Yesterday, they have to watch National Geographic before they can do anything they want on screens, so we were watching a program about baby sharks. They squealed in delight at them. I know a fish and shark are different, but they still love cute.

Basic book on the joys of learning to read and the work it takes and how worth it it is.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about a fish who lives in a library and wants to learn to read is full of charm. I'm sure it will inspire young ones to want to read, and what more can we ask of a picture book? Well, we want illustrations, of course, and the cute images by Gladys Jose fit the imaginative theme of the book. I was surprised to see that it was longer than many picture books these days, but I thought it was just fine for the message about reading that a child might take away. That is: Reading takes time and effort, but it's worth it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She drifted off to sleep murmuring, I am a reader. I am a reader.”

Library Fish loves being in the library. She loves listening to the stories Mr. Hughes reads during story time. On the day that Mr. Hughes reads the book Dog Loves to Read, Library Fish decides that it is time for her to learn how to read. She starts by learning the alphabet and soon, with practice and more practice, she begins to read stories all by herself. And then? She’s so excited to share what she has learned with a friend.

[Emily Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa Satin Capucilli does such a quality job at creating a book that motivates and inspires children to read! Just as the library fish reads different book topics, children can feel inspired to discover new topics that interest them. This is a great book to introduce the importance of the library to students. As well as students can learn that the library is a great place to find books for any interest.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library Fish is still on the desk of Mr. Hughes, the librarian, where she welcomes visitors, and watches and listens to the stories Mr. Hughes reads during story time. One book peaked Library Fish's interest, and soon Library Fish was on a quest to to learn to read for herself. Filled with whimsical fantasy The Library Fish is sure to capture a young reader's imagination.

[Kelly]

Phew, this book gets text heavy at some points. I think a really good picture book doesn't need all that text. But, to each their own. It was really cute, but we need a follow up where somehow the fish has someone to read to, even if maybe the library gets a big fish tank and he can read to other fish in the tank.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet motivating tale of wanting to learn to read. Shows first learning the alphabet, and then put letters together to make words. Children will relate and love watching Fish take interest in the steps towards becoming a reader. Fish demonstrates for them, and then follows through by wanting to teach Bookmobile the skill :)
a Definite Library read aloud !

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm pretty picky when it comes to picture books about libraries. Most of them aren't very good, and this one falls in that category for me. I wanted to like it. I find that the illustrations detract from the story rather than add to it. I would have liked to read it to kinder and 1st grade classes, but it's too lengthy and not interesting enough. May consider re-reading.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library Fish loves living in her fish bowl on the desk of librarian Mr. Hughes. One day, hearing the story of a dog who learns to read inspires her to learn. A delightful story of the joys of books and reading.

[Binxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might work for a guest reader. Library fish is cute and very interested in all the stories they hear while at the desk of the librarian. As the title says, library fish sets out to learn how to read. From alphabet through fluid reading, the story chronicles the process of learning to read.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely 'ode' to the library.....& one that children can really get into! I bet kids would really like having this read to them! I liked the little 'scratches or rubbings' of words scattered about in the illustrations......nice touch, illustrator!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A delightful book that is an ode to libraries and the joy and power of learning to read. A little text-heavy so would suit children who can sit for a little longer but such a wonderful book. "I am a reader" bought a lump to my throat - loved it!

[Evelyn Lile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love how these books center on how great storytimes at the library are!

"Storytime was always her favorite part of the day. Mr Hughes read stories that made Library Fish quiver with excitement. Sometimes he read stories that made her laugh out loud!"

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for Kindergarten! Both as a start of the year and then again at the end of the year as a "See how far we've come book". It shows how much time and practice reading takes!
It is also just darn cute!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A enjoyable story about a little goldfish who taught herself to read. When she leaves her fishbowl, she wears a bubble of water over her head as she moves about the library learning the alphabet then learning to read. Very appealing illustrations do a good job of furthering the story.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful tale of unlocking the power of reading.

[Cyndee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I adore this book. The pictures bring the story alive.

We have an aquarium right next to the Children's Desk....can't wait to read it to them!!

[Ivan Calimano]

Loved it! describe how he learned to read and describes library activities. Good for parents that want to teach the kids about the importance of reading.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fish who lives in the library loves to hear stories and figures it will be even better if he can teach himself to read. Elementary and up

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son loves the Biscuit books and so when I saw a familiar author name I just had to scoop it up! Very cute!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Great to read to the littles!