The Catfish Palace

Author: Hazel Hutchins
Illustrator: Ruth Ohi
Annick Press, 1993
ISBN: 1-55037-317-X (sc)

Some of the customers at Cindy’s local pet store think the huge old catfish in the too-small tank is funny. Not Cindy. She likes browsing through the pet store — but the plight of the big fish spoils it for her and she eventually stops going altogether. And when she finds out the catfish has died, she writes a long letter to the store’s owner, telling him how that catfish made her feel and asking him not to get another one.

But how can you have a pet store named the Catfish Palace without a catfish?

Today’s Parent:

“Not only the happy solution, but the very personal tone to this story and Ruth Ohi’s friendly, bright illustrations save it from being ‘just’ a moral lesson. It’s a warm, engaging tale — with an inspiring message about how individual actions can make a difference.”