SOLVED. Childrens Picture Book -- Willie Dee? Smallest fish in the sea escapes through holes in the net that traps his fellow fish. [s]

[Erin]

In the early Eighties, my sister and I frequently checked out a library book from our local branch (PA, USA.) It was a hardcover children's picture book that seemed vintage even at the time, so I'd guess 1950s-70s. The illustrations were not overly complicated and might not have been in full color but I remember lots of blue tones.

The MC was a fish named "Willy Dee" and I could have sworn this was the title of the book as well but maybe that was just what we called it. I've tried searching various spellings of the name: Willy D, Willie Dee, etc. with no luck. I also could have sworn the cover had the MC's name and a drawing of him.

Anyway, the story itself was nothing new. "Willie Dee, Willie Dee, smallest fish in the sea" was a rhyme used in the book; I'm not sure if the entire story was told in rhyme. Willie was indeed the smallest fish in the sea and might have been ignored or even teased, but when the school of fish was caught, Wilie was able to escape by swimming right through the holes in the net. I'm about 90% sure the other fish did not escape, but have a vague memory of him finding a way to rescue them. Or...maybe that was "fixfic" my kid self dreamed up because I didn't like the real ending.

I think Willie was drawn like a "fry," i.e. with big eyes, and was only seen in profile so he looked like a big eye with a tail. The fish may or may not have talked, but they otherwise behaved like normal fish and weren't anthropomorphic.

After moving away, in the late Eighties we visited my grandma and she took us back to the library, where we enlisted a librarian to help us find the book. It was an unsuccessful search and we either had the title incorrect or it had been withdrawn.

Thanks to anyone who can help find this book! And just a word of caution: searching for "Willy Dee fish book" leads to lots of articles about so-called "penis fish," lol.

[Ayshe]

There's "Willie Dee" by Jack Fitch: " Willie Dee was a fish who swam away from home because he was sad and unhappy about being so small." https://www.worldcat.org/title/willie... It doesn't appear to have record on goodreads yet.

[Rainbowheart]

I added a Goodreads record for Willie Dee.

[Erin]

Ayshe wrote: "There's "Willie Dee" by Jack Fitch: " Willie Dee was a fish who swam away from home because he was sad and unhappy about being so small." https://www.worldcat.org/title/willie... It d..."

Thank you so much! This is definitely it. I'd searched most everywhere except Worldcat. Truly appreciate this.

[Erin]

Rainbowheart wrote: "I added a Goodreads record for Willie Dee."

Thank you very much! Now I shall make it my mission to locate a copy of the book and get the cover scanned in for Goodreads. (ETA: I now see there's a copy on Amazon but it would be just my luck to pay $40 for it, then find it a week later at a church rummage sale for fifty cents, haha.)

Also, you are an absolute unit for solving and assisting with so many of these searches; I've been reading this group for a while and am way impressed with how you and others can identify a book by the smallest detail. :) Many thanks!