The Girl and the Goldfish

Emily brings home a small goldfish named Sunny and sets him in a round bowl on her dresser next to her favorite books. She feeds him each morning with care, but soon Sunny stops rising to the surface and hangs near the bottom with drooping fins. Troubled, Emily carries the bowl to Mr. Harper, the kind owner of the corner pet shop, who explains that goldfish need much more space than a bowl provides and that clean, filtered water keeps them well.

Together they pick out a large glass aquarium, a gentle bubbling filter, smooth gravel and a leafy plant. Mr. Harper teaches Emily how to rinse the gravel, let the water rest before adding Sunny, and offer just a little food twice a day. She makes a chart with suns and moons for feeding times and learns to replace part of the water weekly with a special siphon. Written by Jane MEADOW, this warm, simple tale can be read on Kids Tale Book.