Sophie's Fish by Ann Edwards CannonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
SOPHIE’S FISH
Written by A. E. Cannon
Published: 2012 by Penguin Group
Age: 4 – up
Pages: 2 typed; 29 pb
Words: @ 445
Pg 4 – 5 Act 1
A girl at school named Sophie asked me to babysit her fish when she goes to stay at her gram’s house this weekend. Pt
Pg 6-7
“Jake,” Sophie said, “will you take care of Yo-yo?”
"I've never met Yo-Yo, but I said okay. How hard could it be to baby sit a fish? Pt.
Pg 7
Now that I’m waiting for Sophie to bring yo-yo to my house, I am very worried.
Pg 8
Very.
I don’t know anything about taking care of a fish. Pt
Pg 9 – 10 Act 2
For example!
What if Yo-yo gets hungry and wants a snack? What kind of snack do fish like to eat? Pt
Pg 11 - 12
What if Yo-yo wants to play a game after eating his snack? What kind of games do fish like to play? Pt
Pg 13
What if Yo-yo gets sleepy after playing games and wants me to read him a naptime story? What kind of stories do fish like to hear?
Pg 14
What if Yo-yo gets cold while listening to a naptime story and wants me to cover him up with his special blanket? Do fish care if their special blankets are all wet? Pt
Pg 15 - 16
Will I call Sophie’s gram on the telephone and say SOS Pt
Pg 17-18
But what if Sophie’s gram doesn’t answer? What will Yo-yo do then? Wait on the front porch for Sophie to come home? And cry? Pt
Pg 19
What do you do with a fish crying on your front porch?
Pg 20
Please! Tell me quick! Because I really, really need to know! Phew! I’m exhausted! Who knew babysitting fish would be such hard work! Pt
Pg 21 -22
Here’s what I think. When Sophie rings my doorbell, I’ll her to take Yo-yo back home. No fish allowed at this house, I’ll say. The house is a fish-free zone. Pt
Pg 23 Act 3
Ding-Dong!
Pg 24
Oh no! It’s Sophie!
Sophie is right here. Right now! Pt
Pg 25 – 26
I open the door. Sort of. Pt
Pg 27 – 28
“Hi!” says Sophie.
“Hi,” I say. “Where’s Yo-yo?”
In his bowl. In my wagon. Thank you for helping Yo-yo and me.”
Sophie beams at me. Suddenly I don’t feel so worried.
How hard can it be to babysit a fish? Pt
Pg 27 – 28
“Feed him twice a day, says Sophie
“Once in the morning. Once in the evening.”
“That’s it?” I say.
“That’s it,” says Sophie. “Come on let’s go get him.”
Babysitting Sophie’s fish will be a snap! Pt
Pg 29
Or not.
END
Breakdown
Cute and funny. A boy over thinks a situation because he doesn’t know anything about fish or how to take care of one. By the time he decides that he should have said ‘no’ it’s too late.
He’s calmed into thinking that it won’t be as bad as he thinks then he meets the fish and discovers that it’s huge. This is a long form joke of a story with a punch-line I bet kids love. I bet it’s really fun to read out loud and I can’t wait for Robyn to be old enough to care about it.
I see Jake’s problem here is that he doesn’t ask enough questions at the start.
I can relate to this, as a people pleaser I’m inclined to say “yes” first and then stress out about not knowing what I’m doing later.
The punch line at the end is the beginning of a new story for Jake one that the reader gets to imagine as it’s the end of the story.
Three scenes/ three acts very few words but a lot of story.
Act 1: Jake accepts a challenge and doesn’t think about the consequences until later.
Act 2: Jake freaks out and thinks of all the things that could wrong. Jake decides not to
do it after all but it’s too late! Sophie has already arrived with her fish.
Act 3: Sophie explains that it’s not so bad. Jake calms down and regains his confidence until he meet’s Yo-yo.