A Place for Fish

A Place for Fish

By Melissa Stewart

Illustrated by Higgins Bond

Peachtree, 2011

ISBN # 978-1-56145-562-1

Nonfiction picture book

Ages 6-10

 A Place for Fish is the fourth book from Peachtree in this series by Melissa Stewart. The book tells of the environmental threats to fish and how the actions of human affect fish, along with ways people can help stop harmful actions that threaten fish and change them to improve the habitats of fish. Sidebars fill in specific fish information such as how fins help them swim, why certain fish are nearly extinct, and interactions of shelter and how their demise affects fish.

Lush, colorful spreads draw in the reader and show the physical features of the fish in their environments. Inset art with the name of the fish adds more information. The acrylic art is done in the lovely style for which Peachtree is known and provides an up close picture of a variety of fish in their habitats.

This book would make a good introduction to a study of environments, Earth Day, habitats, and interactions of animals in their environments. Read it to introduce children to the importance of human actions on environments and the effect people have on them.

Activity 1

Make a list of the actions people take in the book that harms the environment of fish. Add additional ideas to what young people can do to help keep the environment cleaner for fish.

Activity 2

Look up what one of the fish from the book eats and what eats it. Create a simple food chain to show the importance of their relationship.

 Activity 3

Find out what an invasive species is and read to see how it hurts fish and their environments.

Learn more about oceans and pollution here.

Learn about water pollution at this site.

Here’s a fun coloring activity about fish.

This page has  another  interactive activity.

National Science Standard: organisms and their environment

 Book provided by publisher for Librarian’s Choice book review committee.