This Is A Poem That Heals Fish written by Jean-Pierre Siméon and illustrated by Olivier Tallec and translated from the French by Claudia Zoe Bedrick is a perfect picture book with which to introduce children to what a poem can look like.
One day Arthur notices that his fish Leon doesn’t look so well. He thinks he is dying of boredom. His mother looks at the fish and urges young Arthur to quickly give Leon a poem. Then she takes off for a session of tuba playing with her friends. Arthur doesn’t know what a poem looks like, so he hunts for a poem in the kitchen cabinet and under the bed. Next, he asks people in his neighborhood such as the bicycle maker and the bread maker what a poem looks like.
The examples appeal beautifully to lovely combinations of the senses. The baker says a poem is “hot just like fresh bread” and Mahmoud who takes care of the flowers says a poem is when you can “hear the heartbeat of a stone.” The final spread shows all the descriptions of a poem floating elegantly across the two pages with Leon front and center.
The illustrations are as gorgeous as the definitions of what a poem could look like. Children 5-8 years of age will enjoy, ponder, and grow with this unusual picture book about poetry.
THIS IS A POEM THAT HEALS FISH is a delightful book with a surprise ending when Leon makes his own declaration (Enchanted Lion Books) 2007.
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Activity Questions for This Is a Poem That Heals Fish
There are many descriptions of a poem in this book. Read them again as they appear on the last two pages. Which description is your favorite? Why? Also ask parents, grandparents, and older siblings what their description of a poem is. Then write your favorite definitions down in a notebook for safe keeping.
Why does Arthur think his fish is dying of boredom? Why does his mother tell him to quickly find his fish a poem? Who in his neighborhood does Arthur ask about where to find a poem? If you were looking for a poem, who would you ask? Think about this and then draw a picture of three people you would ask.
Why does Arthur’s fish Leon say at the end of the story that he is a
poem?
