Inspired by……….
Harley’s View
If I had taken a photo of what the Big Man did next you would see him throw the book behind his head. But that is in no way related to his opinion on Hooray for Fish! He is a big fan.
I think he likes this book because when read out loud it has a fantastic rhythm to it, almost singing instead of reading. It is bold and colourful and visually very appealing. The combination of the two seems regardless of number of readings seems to hold his attention.
The pay off at the ends always goes down well, I substituted ’Mam’ in place of ‘Mum’ (being of the Valleys) and together we throw our hands up in the air to say ‘Hooray for Fish!’.
It is fair to say he loves this book and will sit and listen and turn the pages, it’s a book for bedtime, morning and we even took it with us when we went to Aqua Tots in Merthyr Leisure Centre perfect accompaniment to our post swim banana.
Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins
This is the first book I bought for H.W. (Harley William). Was wandering aimlessly around Cardiff Waterstones after having spent about an hour trying to discern the appropriate book to purchase. Do I get one with words? What sort of pictures are right? Do I need one with just numbers? Pictures of baby animals? Do I start with a book about colours? The thought of reading a book with only the words of different colours bored me to tears, so clearly that was not the best to spend my pennies on. But what did I want? I had zero frame of reference for this task. I was lost.
And then I was found. No, not by your friendly member of the Salvation Army brandishing a brass instrument. A young mother who could clearly see I was was in a state of distress (possibly as I was but I shadow of a man crumpled into the corner glazed over, staring into middle space). She said in an instant, ‘Hooray for Fish!’. As she cut through the chaos of what can only loosely be described as the ‘alphabet’ that Waterstones use to organise their picture books, she mentioned something about this book being written by the same person who wrote Maisy (whom I was familiar with). And in an instant she produced this square, bright and bold board book. Salvation. Then she was gone.
Who was she? Has anyone else had a similar encounter in Waterstones with this blonde haired beauty?
This book is brilliant. H.W and me started reading it when he was about five months. Sheer confidence booster. When we started reading ‘Hooray for Fish!’ it was the only book we had so I ended up reading it several times in one sitting. H.W never seemed to bore of it then and certainly doesn’t now. It was the first book he started turning the pages of at about seven or eight months (that was in itself a fantastic sight). It was the first book I learnt by heart and would say aloud and at volume at times of crying, usually to dressing/nappy change.
I love this book for all those reasons and many more.
Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins
A multi-coloured tale about a little fish in search of his mother. He travels far across the seas in search of his Mam and along the way he introduces you to his fish friends. Clearly a popular little fish his friends come in a veritable variety of shapes, sizes and colours.
Captures the biodiversity of the oceans and is perfect for your budding ichthyologist. A playful treat for the eyes with bold and bright colours.
Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins
Introducing Harley William Veall
This is Harley Veall, about 9 months here. Soon to be the big O.N.E.
Likes: apricots, birds, buttons, balls, bottles of milk and pulling chest hair
Dislikes: nappy changing and getting dressed
We’ve been reading together since he was about four months.
Maia’s Story
I challenge you to watch this and not be inspired to read to your newborn everyday.
“Discover what happens when a baby is given a love of stories, songs and rhymes from the start”
