The Fintastic Fishsitter: A Big Fat Zombie Goldfish Adventure

K-Gr 3—Based on O'Hara's chapter book series, this slight picture book spin-off might have a tricky time finding an audience. Tom and his best friend Pradeep are proud owners of a "big fat zombie goldfish" named Frankie. When Pradeep's little sister Sami fills in as a fishsitter, she is given a long list of instructions to follow, the most important one being to keep Frankie away from Fang, a vampire kitten. Sami takes her job seriously and draws up blueprints for a "Fishy Protection Zone," complete with booby traps and a wading pool watchtower. Despite the little girl's best precautions, Fang uses his potent power of "kitty cuteness" to convince Sami to allow them to all play together. In Jagucki's brightly colored digitally created illustrations, the action unfolds like an animated cartoon, with plenty of archenemy high jinks, such as water hose attacks, tennis ball takedowns, and basketball head bounces. After much flying of fur and fins, Sami regains control and dresses the pets up in frilly bonnets and puts them in a baby carriage together. Tom and Pradeep return to thank Sami for her efforts with an ice cream treat, while Frankie and Fang tussle some more.