Not Norman: A Goldfish Story

Kelly Bennett

Illustrated by Noah Jones

Candlewick Press

When a little boy gets a goldfish for his birthday he is disappointed in his new pet.  He wanted a pet that could run and fetch. He wanted a pet that could sleep with him. Then the repeated phrase is uttered, “Not Norman”.  He decides to trade Norman in for a new pet, but Norman slowly wins him over by liking his tuba music and sticking with him even during scary times in the night. The book finishes with the same statement “Not Norman”, but the inflection is different this time and he uses it to say all pets are good, but they are “Not Norman”. 

This is a cute book. The pictures are well done.  I think older preschoolers and kindergarteners would most enjoy this book in order to understand the twist of words at the end. 

Reviewed by Carrie Holton