[GSAS-Member] [GSAS] Children's Manuscript, Goldfish Care

[maus@llarian.net]

Sorry neither Kevin or I have been able to attend meetings last year,  
but I still read and enjoy the list and newsletters!

I'm working on a manuscript, but I thought it might be neat to get  
your impressions. My idea involves a little girl who is getting a  
goldfish for her birthday. However, neither her or her parents know  
very much about fish care. They learn from the pet store owner that a  
goldfish bowl is not the most appropriate environment, and the story  
unfolds as both the parents and child learn together how to care for  
their new family pet.  Actually, it will be pets, because I want to  
include fish socialization... so there would be more than just the  
one. The book would not be a "how-to", but an illustrated story that  
would be appropriate for a parent to give to a child who is learning  
about the difference between a "pet" and a "toy". I'm thinking age  
appropriate for 5-7 year olds.

Do you think this is something you might like for the little people  
in your life? Could you see this as something you might pick up from  
the library? I think it would be neat to have something like this in  
local pet stores to offer to children who are prone to impulse pet- 
fish purchases. But, that's neither here nor there. Just brainstorming.

One possible ending for the story - the little girl has grown, is  
entering middle school, and realizes that she's spent over half of  
her life tending to her fishy friends.

And to keep this on fish topic... my outside goldfish bowl/pond is  
fairing excellent. The fish's metabolisms have all slowed down and  
they are getting feedings once every two days. On the very cold days,  
they just sleep in the bottom.

For Kevin's birthday, I bought him a sally lightfoot crab for our  
saltwater tank. Holy Kizzow! Algae hair eating machine! We've tried  
everything, and nobody has mowed like this crab can.

Lisa Chan

_______________________________________________
GSAS-Member mailing list
GSAS-Member@thekrib.com
http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member