Papa's Mechanical Fish

A humorous tribute to the zany, determined and innovative side of invention.

Gr 2-4--This picture book is a fictional account based on events in the life of eccentric inventor Lodner Phillips as told from the perspective of his daughter, Virena. Papa theorizes and tinkers but never succeeds. Finally, while the family is dropping lines from a pier into Lake Michigan, his daughter asks, "have you ever wondered what it's like to be a fish?" Immediately the man dashes back to his workshop and soon produces one of the world's earliest submarines, the Whitefish. Children will delight in the way Virena is the catalyst for her father's successive improvements to his primitive vessel as she continues to ask questions: about how fish move through water, stay dry, and know where they are going. Kulikov's luminous, playful, detailed illustrations on full-bleed spreads incorporate a variety of perspectives, including close-up views of fish and of Papa underwater and cutaway diagrams of his creations. An afterword is included. The exuberant and inquisitive tone of this book is sure to entertain curious children.--Anne Barreca, New York Public Library

This quirky tale--based on actual, less whimsical events of the 19th century--profiles a would-be inventor and his indulgent family. Out fishing one day, daughter and narrator Virena happens to ask, "Papa... have you ever wondered what it's like to be a fish?" "Uh-oh," interjects Virena's prescient baby sister, as their inspired father races for his workshop. To a refrain of "Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirrrr!" Papa sets to building a series of submarines, which he tests in Lake Michigan. Kulikov (Max's Castle) pictures Papa's wishful blueprints, optimistic dives, and soggy results; Fleming (Oh, No!) matches the outcomes to revealing remarks from the family, from Virena's speculative, "Papa, how do fish stay dry?" to Mama's, "I'm so glad I brought along this life preserver." Gigantic orange fish and sturgeons observe and seem to aid in the experiments, and the family's French bulldog glances at readers in comic disbelief. Fleming developed this tale from the real-life story of 1850s inventor Lodner Phillips and a submarine dubbed the Fool Killer; thanks to a bibliography, readers can research this oddball narrative alongside another daredevil history, Queen of the Falls. Ages 4-8. (June)