Fish and Flamingo

A carefully constructed story about a singular friendship. Carlstrom's poetically honed text tells how Fish and Flamingo share descriptions of their lives (``how it felt to...float free into the light of a star shining on the edge of a wave''), rescue each other (rather implausibly), and dream of exchanging gifts of particularly beautiful sights--dreams that come true when Flamingo flies away, since (in trying to watch her go) Fish and his fellows see a flamingo-hued sunset, while, looking down, Flamingo sees the silvery fish gleaming like stars. As an explication of the idea that joy may be found in openhearted friendship, even with a natural enemy, the story is effective. Desimini's oil paintings add a lot to the child appeal: the tropical sea and brilliantly colored bird and fish are perfectly served by her sculptural modeling and rich palette of deep blues, luminous greens, and sunset colors. A bit earnest, but truly handsome: Desimini at her best. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Fish and Flamingo are the best of pals, an uncommon pair trading stories in "a place where the sky slid into the sea." Fish tells of his "underwater world, of swimming on the cool green bottom of the sea" while Flamingo captivates her friend with tales of flying on a breeze into the sunset. Day after day, Fish and Flamingo converse, deepening their friendship, until Flamingo must join her fellow birds in their flight to warmer climes. A pair of unexpected farewell gifts brings this simple, winningly conceived story to a thoughtful conclusion. Desimini's luminous illustrations shimmer with an inner energy and exoticism--her bold rainbow colors pulsing with a solid warmth, their effulgence never verging on the artificial. Both text and pictures tingle with a lush, magical poetry yet manage to maintain the unfettered feeling of a modern folktale. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.