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CHARACTER COUNTS: Goldfish Ghost

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Goldfish Ghost 
By Lemony Snicket
Illustrated by Lisa Brown
Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, 2017. Picture Book

A goldfish ghost was born upside-down in a goldfish bowl. If floated out of the bowl and the room and started to explore the seaside town that was outside the house where he was born. There were a lot of people and a lot of animals. The seagulls were too noisy and were not “good company”. He didn’t find some “good company” while at the beach where there were too many people. There were a lot of sea creature ghosts that were near the ocean…but there were just too many of them. Goldfish Ghost was looking for a good friend. Eventually he went back to where he was born—but alas! He had been replaced by a new goldfish that was not a ghost and did not float upside-down. Finally Goldfish Ghost hears a voice that says “I’ve been looking for company.” And perhaps, just perhaps Goldfish Ghost will find someone who is kind and willing to be a good companion.

This book is a touch spooky (I mean it is talking about a dead goldfish that floats around a town looking for a friend). However, the gold fish is nice and just wants to belong somewhere. As Goldfish Ghost floats around he learns more about his world. And the best part is the kind friendship that comes at the end of the book. This is a good book for those who want to talk about what makes good company and what would make a good friend—for the character counts to people and animals (even the dead ones).
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