Big Al (book) facts for kids
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Author | Andrew Clements |
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Cover artist | Yoshi Kogo |
Country | United States |
Genre | Picture book |
Publisher | Picture Book Studio Simon & Schuster |
Publication date
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1989 |
Pages | 32 |
ISBN | 978-0-689-81722-9 |
OCLC | 37778110 |
Followed by | Big Al and Shrimpy |
Big Al is a popular children's picture book that tells a heartwarming story. It was written by Andrew Clements and beautifully illustrated by Yoshi Kogo. The book first came out in 1989. It's about a fish named Al who looks scary but really wants to make friends.
Contents
The Story of Big Al
What's the Story About?
Big Al is a fish who lives in the ocean. He is very big and has a scary appearance. His scales are dark and rough. Because of how he looks, all the other smaller fish are afraid of him. They swim away whenever he comes near. This makes Big Al feel very lonely. He wishes he could play and swim with them.
Al tries many ways to make friends. He tries to hide his scary looks. He even tries to change his colors. Nothing seems to work. The other fish still swim away from him. He feels sad and left out.
One day, a group of small fish get into trouble. They swim too close to a big, dangerous net. They are caught and cannot escape. Big Al sees what is happening. He knows he must help them.
Al uses his large size and strength. He pushes and pulls at the net. He works hard to free the trapped fish. The small fish are very scared. But they see Al is trying to save them.
After Al frees them, the small fish realize something important. Big Al is not scary at all. He is kind and brave. They learn that you should not judge someone by how they look. They become good friends with Big Al. They play together happily.
Who Created Big Al?
The story of Big Al was written by Andrew Clements. He was a famous American author. Clements wrote many popular children's books. He was known for stories that taught important lessons.
The beautiful pictures in Big Al were drawn by Yoshi Kogo. Kogo is an illustrator from Japan. His artwork helps bring Al's feelings to life. The illustrations show Al's loneliness and his joy.
Why is Big Al Important?
Big Al teaches important lessons about friendship and acceptance. It shows that looks can be deceiving. Someone who seems scary might be very kind. The book encourages readers to look beyond appearances. It reminds us to give everyone a chance.
The story also highlights the value of bravery. Big Al risked himself to help others. This act of kindness changed how the other fish saw him. It helped him find the friends he wanted.
The Sequel: Big Al and Shrimpy
Because Big Al was so popular, a sequel was published. It is called Big Al and Shrimpy. This book came out in 2002. It continues the adventures of Big Al. It introduces a new character, a tiny fish named Shrimpy. The sequel explores more about their friendship.