Review of Alfie's Attack

[Stephen Campana]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Alfie's Attack" by David Bohline.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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David Bohline’s Alfie’s Attack! is a charming story about a fish who seems to have it made in the shade (or the sea), winning all of the swimming races “with a swish and a swoosh of his lightning fast tail.” With his grace, talent, and winning smile, Alfie really stands out from the crowd. But those who know him best know that a deep fear lurks beneath the glittering surface of this talented fish. Alfie has asthma.

One day, while swimming along, he encounters a hungry shark. Alfie takes off with the shark in hot pursuit. Before long, an asthma attack strikes. But it’s not Alfie who’s wheezing; it’s the shark! It falls on Alfie to attempt a rescue. I won’t say if he succeeds because I don’t want to give too much away. Suffice it to say the rest of the story teaches us some important lessons about coping with a frightening affliction.

I enjoyed this book. The narration is done entirely in rhymes, giving the book a breezy, fun feel and keeping things lively and interesting. The illustrations are terrific, giving the reader a sense of a sea teeming with lots of interesting creatures. Parents of kids with asthma will like this book. It’s a great way to broach a difficult subject with kids.

Since there’s not much to dislike about a well-written, well-edited (I found no errors), nicely illustrated children’s book about a brave fish, I will nitpick a bit. Although the poetry is very good, it doesn't quite rise to the level of someone like Dr. Seuss. Also, the plot is a bit too thin for me to give it my highest rating; hence I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Parents and kids alike will enjoy this fun story about a brave fish coping with a frightening affliction.

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Alfie's Attack
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