Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse

Nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad. So when his pesky little sister, Lucy, horns in on their fishing trip, he's none too pleased: "Where's my stringer? / Something's wrong! / The princess doll does not belong!" All ends well in this winsome book of poems-each labelled with its proper poetic form, from quatrain to tercet. Together the poems build a dawn-to-dusk story of a father-son bond, of sibling harmony lost and found-and most of all, of delicious anticipation. Charming line drawings animate the poetry with humour and drama, and the extensive Poet's Tackle Box at the end makes this the perfect primer to hook aspiring poets of all ages. AGES: 6-9 AUTHOR: Tamera Wissinger was inspired to write this novel-in-verse after writing "Night Crawlers," a poem that stemmed from her fun childhood memories of night crawler hunting with her dad before fishing trips. She is a graduate of Hamline University's MFA Writing for Children program. This is her first book. Matthew Cordell and his brother Eric were all-around best buds. They grew up in a small town in South Carolina, where his family would often take fishing trips together. Matthew is the illustrator of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg and Justin Case by Rachel Vail. Colour illustrations

“Triple Crown Awards' 2017-2018 Gallery Honor "Just the thing for readers with a burgeoning interest in poetry--or angling." --Publishers Weekly "A playful verse narrative of the joys and perils of a family fishing trip. . . . This tender, well-crafted sibling story should hook many readers." --Kirkus "Engaging verse that's just the right depth and length for chapter-book readers. . . A solid, entertaining story to hook children on poetry." --Booklist "All of Sam's episodes take the form of poems, each discreetly labeled by its poetic form, which is then defined at the end of the book. . . most will enjoy the notion that there are as many ways to tell a tale as to catch a fish." --Bulletin "This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. . . . Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story" --School Library Journal, starred review”

Triple Crown Awards' 2017-2018 Gallery Honor "Just the thing for readers with a burgeoning interest in poetry--or angling." --Publishers Weekly "A playful verse narrative of the joys and perils of a family fishing trip. . . . This tender, well-crafted sibling story should hook many readers." --Kirkus "Engaging verse that's just the right depth and length for chapter-book readers. . . A solid, entertaining story to hook children on poetry." --Booklist "All of Sam's episodes take the form of poems, each discreetly labeled by its poetic form, which is then defined at the end of the book. . . most will enjoy the notion that there are as many ways to tell a tale as to catch a fish." --Bulletin "This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. . . . Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story" --School Library Journal, starred review --

Tamera Will Wissinger has fond memories of night-crawler hunting with her father before fishing trips. She splits her time between Florida and Chicago.

Matthew Cordell knows all about fishing trips from his South Carolina childhood. He lives with his family in Gurnee, Illinois. Visit his website at

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