Children's Book Review: Walking Fish by Rachelle and Kopel Burk

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from JKS COmmunication, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it


All this week I'll be sharing products and books for kids, to help with Brain Drain over the Summer, or to assist you on Summer vacation and travels!

walking fish cover

Synopsis:

When 7th grader Alexis catches an unusual fish that looks like a living fossil, she sets off a frenzied scientific hunt for more of its kind. Alexis and her friend Darshan join the hunt, snorkeling, sounding the depths of Glacial Lake, even observing from a helicopter and exploring a cave. All the while, they fight to keep the selfish Dr. Mertz from claiming the discovery all for himself. When Alexis follows one final hunch, she risks her life and almost loses her friend. "Walking Fish" is a scientific adventure that provides a perfect combination of literacy and scienc


Review:

Finding Middle grade books (aimed for 9-12 yrs old) for younger readers (8) can be a bit difficult if you want to get past the 'Disney' era. So if you can find a book that includes science and adventure, and is FUNNY, for girls, then you know you have a winner! This is a wonderful book, that your daughters will devour this Summer! And because it deals with archeology, geology and biology, (aka STEM) you can easily work in some trips to your local museums and STEM activity centers, for more exploration and education! It is the perfect fun tale to start a Summer adventure with! The book is so engaging and endearing, your child may be surprised they finished it, as good look getting them to put it down! Miss Grace is hoping for more books from the authors with Alexis and Darshan, and I heartedly agree! 

About the Writing of This Book:

One day, Kopel asked his niece, Rachelle, if she’d co-write a children’s book with him. When he explained that it was about a girl who discovers a prehistoric fish, Rachelle—who was already a published children’s author—said, “I remember you telling me that story when I was a little girl over 40 years ago! It’s your story. How about if I just edit it for you?”

But one year, many chapters, and several new characters later, it really had become their story. The Walking Fish is a middle-grade science-adventure novel filled with well-researched science, page-turning excitement, and quirky characters. The process, which included countless laugh-till-they-cried moments, had brought uncle and niece closer than they’d ever been.

Rachelle soon landed a contract with Tumblehome Learning, an educational publisher whose mission is to get children excited about science through captivating science-based fiction stories. With the release of The Walking Fish on April 1, 2015, the book became Kopel’s first publication at the age of 86. It is Rachelle’s 5th children’s book, and her first novel.


About the Authors:

Kopel Burk is a retired New Jersey physician who writes, sculpts, and travels in his spare time. He conceived the idea for Walking Fish more than 40 years ago, when he told early versions of the story to his family. He lives in Millburn, New Jersey. 

Rachelle Burk writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children. She is the author of Don’t Turn the Page and Tree House in a Storm and has written for national children’s publications including Highlights MagazineKidsville News, and Scholastic Science World. She lives in New Brunswick, New Jersey.


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