Moonfish

Title

Moonfish

Author

Graeme Base

Illustrators

Graeme Base

Publisher, Date

Puffin Books, 2017

Audience

Primary, Secondary, Upper Primary

Curriculum Codes

AC9E5LA01, AC9E5LA02, AC9E5LA03, AC9E5LE01, AC9E5LE02, AC9E5LE03, AC9E5LE04, AC9E5LE05, AC9S5U01, AC9HP6P01, AC9HP6P04

AC9E5LA01, AC9E5LA02, AC9E5LA03, AC9E5LE01, AC9E5LE02, AC9E5LE03, AC9E5LE04, AC9E5LE05, AC9S5U01, AC9HP6P01, AC9HP6P04, AC9HP6P10, AC9E6LA01, AC9E6LA02, AC9E6LA03, AC9E6LE01, AC9E6LE02, AC9E6LE03, AC9E6LE04, AC9E6LE05, AC9S6U01, AC9E7LA01, AC9E7LA02, AC9E7LA03, AC9E7LE01, AC9E7LE02, AC9E7LE03, AC9E7LE04, AC9E7LE05, AC9E7LE06, AC9E7LE07, AC9HP8P05, AC9HP8P10, AC9E8LA01, AC9E8LA02, AC9E8LA03, AC9E8LE01, AC9E8LE02, AC9E8LE03, AC9E8LE04, AC9E8LE05, AC9E8LE06, AC9E9LA01, AC9E9LA03, AC9E9LA08, AC9E9LE01, AC9E9LE02, AC9E9LE03, AC9E9LE04, AC9E9LE06, AC9HP10P01, AC9HP10P04, AC9HP10P10, AC9E10LA01, AC9E10LA02, AC9E10LE01, AC9E10LE02, AC9E10LE03, AC9E10LE04, AC9E10LE05, AC9E10LE06, AC9E10LE08, AC9AVA6E01, AC9AVA8E01, AC9AVA10E01

ISBN

9780143791409

Add to Favourites

Subjects
1. Adoption
2. Animals
3. Art techniques
4. Belonging
5. Bullying
6. Danger
7. Dragons
8. Fables
9. Lakes and ponds
10. Marine life
11. Mythical creatures
12. Visual literacy
Annotation

Graeme Base is well known for his ability to create magical ‘other worlds’ filled with intricate details and amazing characters. ‘Moonfish’ takes the readers into one such world, an aquatic wonderland filled with human-looking creature, ancient Asian style structures, snow covered mountain ranges and wide vistas.

One day an old fish couple find a small strange looking creature, a fish who did not look like any other fish. They take him home and take care of him and grow to love him, but he grew very large, and the other fish teased him because he looked different, calling him Moonfish. He knew he had to leave home to find where he belonged, to learn who he really is.

The text is minimal with some pages wordless, but the illustrations draw you into this delicate watery world to seek out the detail as Moonfish journeys through. The colour tones are muted blues, greens, and browns with one double page spread in pinks and purple, the colours of twilight. The illustrations are dark, but light has been used in exceptional ways through lanterns, windows, or the moon to illuminate areas and create casting shadows and depth. The story’s dramatic climax is coloured in vivid reds and oranges which highlight brilliantly the reality of who Moonfish is.

Graeme Base was inspired to create this book whilst in China. Its vast and varied landscape and its ancient buildings translated to an underwater world. An excellent book to use for visual literary. Note the book was first published in China with the title ‘Dragon Moon’.
Teaching Resources
1. Lamont Books Publishers Notes for teachers’ ‘Moonfish’ by Graeme Base https://www.lamontbooks.com.au/media/152544/publishers-notes-moonfish.pdf
2. Reading Time 13 November 2019 Review by Angela Brown of ‘Moonfish’ by Graeme Base. https://readingtime.com.au/moonfish/
3. Liz Derouet Blog 26 September 2019 Review of ‘Moonfish ‘by Graeme Base https://lizderouet.wordpress.com/2019/09/26/moonfish/
4. ABC Afternoons, Melbourne 1 October 2019 ‘Graeme Base on the power of picture books and his magical new book ‘Moonfish’’ https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/programs/afternoons/graeme-base-moonfish/11565148
5. China Plus 8 December 2017 Li Shiyu ‘In ‘Dragon Moon’ Aussie author tells a Chinese version of the Ugly Duckling.’ http://chinaplus.cri.cn/mychina/art-and-literature/1410/20171208/62284.html
6. ABC Splash Live 2 July 2014 ‘Let’s draw with Graeme Base’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVo7I9DTtuc

NCACL

Search form