FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-For those already familiar with the basics of fishing, this is the book to read. It covers equipment, tackle, approaching the water, baitfishing, specific types of fish, tying flies, and more. Speaking directly to children, Amdahl passes on numerous bits of information and tips gleaned from his years of experience. On the sunfish's favorite food (the tomato worm) he suggests, "If your parents have a garden with tomatoes in it, look on the leaves for green caterpillars with a circle marking on them and a stinger thing on one end. That is a tomato worm. They look kind of scary, but they have never hurt me." He reminds readers that it is not important to keep every fish they catch and when releasing them to be careful not to harm them. "The fun of catching a fish is in the skill it took to accomplish, not in the meat or dead body of the fish." One chapter is missing in the table of contents, and there is no index. The black-and-white photos are dark and grainy. With full-page color diagrams and step-by-step photos and illustrations, Fiona Patchett's Starting Fishing (Usborne, 1999) and John Bailey's The Young Fishing Enthusiast (DK, 1999) are better sources for those new to the sport.-Diane Olivo-Posner, Long Beach Public Library, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.