Also by Claire Babin: Big Wolf and Little Wolf: Such a Beautiful Orange! Big Wolf and Little Wolf: The Little Leaf That Wouldn't Fall Big Wolf and Little Wolf Rita and Whatsit Gus Is a Tree This is a Poem That Heals Fish   Also illustrated by Olivier Tallec: Gus Is a Tree Rita and Whatsit Gus Is a Fish by Claire Babin, illustrated by Olivier Tallec Ages 4-8 32 pages Enchanted Lion April 2008 Hardcover     Each book in the Gus series shows Gus daydreaming that he is a fish, a tree, a snowflake or a bird. In Gus Is a Fish, Gus is taking a bath and tells his mommy he is swimming, to which she responds, “You’re a real little fish.” Gus puts his head in the water and turns into a little rainbow-colored fish whose colors resemble Gus’s pajamas. Gus the Fish starts out in a pond with water lilies, dragonflies, catfish, tadpoles and frogs. He interacts with a curious duckling and has a slightly scary encounter with a pike. Gus hears his mommy telling him it’s time to stop being a fish. He lifts his head up to find he is no longer a fish. He is now back in the tub with all his toys, and his mommy is smiling at him. Gus Is a Fish, translated from the original French, is a lovely book about the power of a child’s vivid imagination. The lush, gorgeous paintings of natural settings are a beautiful touch. An index of words at the end of the story provides an excellent learning opportunity. In all, this is sure to bring out the science and nature lover in a young reader!     web reviews   Usha Reynolds/2009 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)