The Fish in the Bathtub

Author: Eoin Colfer

Illustrator: Peter Bailey

Age: Lower KS2

UKLA Book Awards 7-11 Category Shortlist 2016

This book is quite simple with its use of language, but there is quite a lot of meaning behind the text. I would aim this at children who have a lower level of word recognition but a higher comprehension level, as it could challenge comprehension skills with its links to history. This would be a good book for a guided read activity.

The book is a lovely teaching resource, with its foreign language phrases, beautiful illustrations and strong history links that focus on World War 2. It approaches war in a light way.

Also, this book can be a transitional book towards novels, as it has chapters and is larger than the average picture book, but it is simple enough with the language. This can introduce the style of a more mature novel without being overwhelming.

"Warsaw is not a city of buildings" - "It is a city of people" - "This was about freedom"