A new academic year is upon us. In Europe and the US, schools have recently reopened, while in India, children have been back in school since June. Every child is different. Some make friends immediately, while others may need a little more time to feel comfortable and confident — whether it’s moving to a new country, adjusting to a different language setting, transitioning from an international school to a local one, or simply stepping up from kindergarten to first grade, it CAN feel daunting: “I don’t have a friend in school yet. I don’t understand all the words.” Rest assured, most children settle in after a few weeks. If your child is feeling like a fish out of water, I have a beautiful bedtime read to recommend: A Fish in Foreign Waters by Laura Caputo-Wickham. (Recommended for ages 4–8)
Synopsis
The story follows a little fish, Rosie Ray, who moves to new waters because her father has found a new job. She worries that her old friends will forget her and that no one will like her in her new school. Through language, food, and unfamiliar experiences, Rosie shares her feelings of loneliness and differences. When her mother invites everyone to her birthday, everything begins to change — but that’s for you to discover along with your little one. Rosie faces many challenges, but on her birthday, she makes an important discovery: more languages can mean more friends.
My thoughts: Though the book is written with bilingual children in mind, it is equally meaningful for any child who has moved to a new place. It gently reassures children that it’s okay to feel what they feel, and that with time, they will blend into their new surroundings. The colourful illustrations by Pamela Goodman keep young readers engaged throughout. I read this book to my girls when they were really little. It was not only enjoyable but also encouraged them to open up about their day at school and talk about which languages their friends spoke.
Born in Rome, Laura and her brother were raised bilingually (Italian-English) by their mother (who herself grew up in South Africa). She graduated from college in Languages and Foreign Cultures. She moved to the U.K. where she met her husband. Mother of two daughters, Laura says, “I am raising them bilingually, trying to pass on to them the same passion for different cultures.”
A year after the book was released, I had the opportunity to review it and interview the Laura in 2016. A decade later, I find the book still just as relevant.
kurlygirlreads: How did the idea of this book evolve?
Laura: I’ve always known that I was going to raise bilingual children and this fascinating journey started with the birth of my first daughter. I enjoyed watching her learn new words and being able to understand both languages. But when she turned three, there was some hesitation in speaking the minority language, and it was the same with some of her bilingual friends. While doing a bit of research, I came across a quote from Professor Colin Baker, who writes in his book, A Parent’s and Teachers’ Guide to Bilingualism (Multilingual Matters, Third Edition): “Children often don’t want to appear different. They want to conform to the status-giving behavior of the peer group. This may entail a temporary non-use of one of their languages.” Children are very aware of what language they should invest energies in learning and often this ends up being the majority language. This made me feel quite sad. They are not aware of the great benefits that speaking two languages brings. Something needed to be done! And this was the inspiration for my book.
kurlygirlreads: Has your book helped parents who have moved to different countries with their children?
Laura: I have received many messages from very grateful parents who found in my book an excellent tool to talk to their children about the benefits of speaking bilingually. Many shared that the book quickly became one of their children’s favourite as they can identify themselves with the lovely character of Rosie Ray. I even had parents who confessed to have shed a tear or two while reading it as they could remember going through the same growing up.
kurlygirlreads: How does this book help in a multilingual environment?
Laura: The book helps parents explain to their children the benefits of being bilingual. It can be used to encourage them if they ever feel conspicuous or out of place for being different. It is also an excellent tool to promote culture in classrooms.
kurlygirlreads: What makes the book so memorable?
Laura: The rhyming language makes it a very enjoyable reading and soon you’ll find your children finishing the sentences while you’re reading it to them. I also think that the watercolour pictures by Pamela Goodman are real works of art. The children will enjoy looking for a crab hiding in every page!
