Arthur’s fish is going to die and he needs an immediate cure. “Leon is going to die of boredom!” he cries to his mother. Taking a deep look at her son and his fish, she smiles and prescribes a poem. “A poem!?” Arthur wonders. Not knowing what a poem is or how to find one, he searches in the cupboards and under the bed. Lolo at the bicycle shop offers this explanation, “A poem, Arthur, is when you are in love and the sky is in your mouth.” Still confused, Arthur presses on. He asks the baker, his neighbor, his pet canary, and his grandma. All offer lyrical sentiments, but none that make sense to Arthur. Not until Arthur speaks to Leon from his heart does he realize what a poem is in a quiet, lyrical, lovely picture book. (Ages 6–10)

When Arthur’s fish is sick and dying of boredom, his mother advises him to give the fish a poem. Since Arthur doesn’t know what a poem is, he asks his eccentric neighbors and family. The bicycle repairman’s poem is “When you are in love and have the sky in your mouth” (n.p.). The baker’s is left over fresh bread. His grandma suggests that a poem “turns words around, upside down” (n.p.). Arthur offers the fish the answers he’s received and saves his fish’s life. Playful, bright paintings will inspire readers to view the world in a new way . mjw

Originally published as Ceci est un Poème qui Guérit les Poissons in French by Rue du Monde VoisinsleBretonneux France, in 2005. Translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick.

After his mother, hurrying to her tuba lesson, tells him that a poem will cure his pet fish's boredom, a little boy tries to find out what a poem is by asking friends, neighbors, and other members of his family.