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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Some of the Fishes in the Sea by Christopher Walker follows Emma, a young girl with a growing interest in photography, as both her tenth birthday and a family holiday in Sicily fast approach. Emma receives gifts, including a waterproof camera, which she practices with until she arrives in Sicily. There, she photographs everything around her: fish, landscapes, streets, and local life. In Palermo, she captures the city from the docks and parks; in Monreale, she photographs the cathedral and surrounding views. In Cefalù, she climbs a steep hill, then wanders around the markets and the harbor with her parents. Everything seems to be going swimmingly until one day on the beach, while she is taking photos of fish, her camera falls into the water, and she will have to think outside the box to get it back.
Christopher Walker’s Some of the Fishes in the Sea: An Emma and Olivia Story is a really lovely armchair trek through Sicily, as seen through Emma's camera lens. As a parent, I appreciate that Walker intentionally includes how Emma views the world with her own eyes, setting aside the camera to be in the moment, but still snapping images as keepsakes. Emma’s wanderings in Cefalù are the standout, showing joyful curiosity as she photographs rooftops, the deep blue sea, and playful fish. The taste of fresh orange juice, the texture of a Genovese pastry, and the simple satisfaction of feeling sand between one's toes combine the sensory with thoughtful observations in the heart of this children's story. There is a surprise at the end that is positively magical, and both my youngest reader and I enjoyed every single page of Emma's adventure.
