Pearl & The Fish
Patricia MacCarthy
Patricia MacCarthy Books

Many young children fear the dark and so it was with little Pearl who imagined shadowy things hiding under her bed. That however was before she had her brainwave. At bedtime she’d bake six imaginary biscuits using her toy kitchen set and put them on an invisible plate in a particularly shadowy place. Come morning the biscuits had always disappeared and the shadowy thing that consumed them had become her friend.

Then one night a rumbling sound wakes Pearl from a dream about a goldfish and ,secure in the knowledge that whatever made the sound must be friendly, out of bed she gets and discovers a huge goldfish snoring. A gentle poke causes it to release a bubble and then many more, until her room bounces with ‘bubble popping play, jubilant jumping and glorious giggles.’ The two enjoy themselves until come the dawn the fish vanishes and Pearl gets back into her bed and sleeps till morning.

Was it all a dream, she wonders but the following night, the fish is back. Introducing itself as Goldie, the fish explains how it came to be and the two of them fly to the Moon, Pearl taking delight in the shooting stars around. She even catches one and takes it back to Earth.

The next morning after a cosy sleep, she is woken by her mum talking of a special surprise for Pearl. That evening she still makes her six friendship biscuits but these have for a different purpose altogether.

Magical, reassuring, and with fantastical, luminescent illustrations, Patricia’s telling reads aloud really well: I love the playful alliteration and the way Pearl takes the initiative to control her fears.