From School Library Journal
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K-Gr 3—In a droll twist on the typical "beloved dead
pet" story, this one opens with a death—reimagined as an
otherworldly birth—of a boy's pet goldfish. Born upside down and
floating on top of his fish, Goldfish Ghost, who remains in
that position throughout, slowly drifts out of the boy's bedroom
and along the idyllic seascapes of Cape Cod in search of
companionship. The many shrieking seagulls pay him no heed, the
busy vacationers already have friends and family, and the mass of
deceased sea creatures floating above the ocean aren't quite
Goldfish Ghost's scene. Eventually, the melancholic little
specter finds a forever home in a lighthouse with the former
lighthouse keeper, a grandmotherly presence who places him gently
in the warm light that "once shone for sailors at sea." Unlike
most picture books about death, this take is wholly unconcerned
with the emotional repercussions felt by the pet's owner, and
instead focuses squarely, and with deadpan charm, on answering
one of life's most baffling and enduring questions: What happens
when we die? And his answer is, perhaps surprisingly for the
author of the delightfully dark "A Series of Unfortunate Events,"
rather comforting. Brown's signature India ink and watercolor
illustrations add to the subtle tongue-in-cheek humor, depicting
the titular former pet in stark black-and-white (with a single
flat and staring eye) against the colorful blues, greens, and
coral shades of the vacation town. As in her previous works (The
Airport Book; Mummy Cat), relatable details and visual Easter
eggs add depth and dimension to the setting and supporting cast
of characters. VERDICT Can a book about death and the afterlife
be refreshing and funny? In the hands of Snicket and Brown,
indeed it can. This oddball offering should find a welcome home
in any picture book collection.—Kiera Parrott, School Library
Journal
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Review
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*"In the field of pet bereavement narratives, this one stands out
for tenderness, originality, and subtlety."―Horn Book, starred
review
*"Can a book about death and the afterlife be refreshing and
funny? In the hands of Snicket and Brown, indeed it can. This
oddball offering should find a welcome home in any picture book
collection."―School Library Journal, starred review
*"Line and watercolor art gives Goldfish Ghost an unexpected
robustness as he palely wafts through the steely sky, balanced by
the busyness of the earthly scenes below him; he’s a reassuringly
homey and accessible ghost even in his un- earthly state. Like
Snicket’s The Dark (BCCB 6/13), this could be a way to make
uncomfortable spaces friendlier; it’s also a logical go-to for
smaller pet death, and adults who come to snicker will leave
unexpectedly moved."―Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,
starred review
"A lovely, untrammeled look at a pet's afterlife."―Kirkus Reviews
"Don’t expect this ghost story to slip by unnoticed."―Booklist
"Goldfish Ghost is an enigmatic hero―is he lonely, or just
fussy?―but Snicket’s portrayal of the lighthouse keeper’s
intuitive kindness and Brown’s subdued, moonlit landscapes
resolve the story with moments of magic."―Publishers Weekly
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