FLASH THE FISH

A tale of a fish and a whale, originally published in 1990 in Israel.

When a small silver fish meets a large black whale, one might assume that trouble would ensue, but that is hardly the case in this foil-decorated tale of friendship and helpfulness. Once Flash, a minnow fashioned from silver foil, bravely ascertains that what he initially mistakes for a mountain is actually a young and tearful lost baleen whale, he vows to find the whale’s parents, which results in an undersea adventure and builds a bond that will clearly last into the future. While in real life, Flash makes an unlikely playmate, in this ocean fantasy, he proves that size doesn’t count in matters of friendship. Dispatching his numerous, equally shiny relations to search for the whale’s parents while he keeps the lost calf company, he brings about a joyous reunion, finds a new pal, and has a very enjoyable day as well. The text is, for the most part, clear and straightforward, but Flash rather unfortunately opines that crying is babyish, and in terms of plot, his decision to send his family and friends out to save the day rather than helping the young whale find her parents herself feels unsatisfying. The foil may strike U.S. readers as no great shakes—it inevitably calls Rainbow Fish and its successors to mind—and overall, the story and moral are on the slight side. Still, young listeners will likely enjoy the sparkly silver and the mild suspense and identify with the excitement of making a new friend.

A flawed yet pleasant and accessible tale of friendship.