Hey there, little friends! Today, we’re going to have some fun with a story called “Dogfish” by Jillian Shields. It’s a special book that many kids love, and I think you might like it too. Are you ready to start? Yay!
In our story, there’s a little boy who really wants a dog. But guess what? Everyone else has a dog except him! Can you imagine that? Let’s count how many dogs we can find on the page. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten dogs! Wow, that’s a lot of dogs!
The boy asks his mom, “Can I have a dog?” But his mom says, “Why do you need a dog when you have a nice goldfish?” Hmm, what do you think? Can a goldfish catch sticks or go for walks? No, they can’t! That’s why the boy really wants a dog.
His mom says, “We live on the 44th floor. That’s very high!” Do you think it’s high? Imagine looking down from up there! The boy thinks it would be good exercise for a dog to climb all those stairs. What do you think?
Even though the boy can’t have a dog, he starts to see his goldfish in a new way. He teaches his goldfish to catch a tiny stick. It takes practice, but they do it! Isn’t it fun to learn something new, like riding a bike or throwing a ball?
The boy takes his goldfish for walks and even pretends the goldfish reads the paper. Do you think your pet could read the paper? The goldfish eats just a little bit and listens to the boy’s stories. He’s not just a goldfish; he’s a dogfish!
Now, the boy is happy with his goldfish. He says, “Why would I need a dog when I have the best goldfish in the world?” Pets are amazing, aren’t they? Do you have a pet? What do you like to do with your pet?
And that’s the end of our story “Dogfish” by Jillian Shields. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Remember to have fun with your pets and take care. See you next time! Bye!
Goldfish Adventure Drawing: Let’s use our imagination! Draw a picture of an adventure you would have with a pet goldfish. Maybe your goldfish can fly, or perhaps it can play soccer! Share your drawing with the class and tell us about your goldfish’s special adventure.
Pet Observation Journal: If you have a pet at home, spend some time watching what it does. Does it have a favorite toy or a special place it likes to rest? Write or draw what you see in a little journal. If you don’t have a pet, you can observe a friend’s pet or even a bird or squirrel outside!
Goldfish and Dog Comparison: Let’s think about what makes goldfish and dogs different and what makes them the same. Can you list two things that are different and two things that are the same? Share your thoughts with a friend or family member.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey kids! Welcome to the Story Time Family. Today we’re going to be reading “Dogfish” by Jillian Shields. This used to be our favorite book. I used to read this to my six-year-old all the time, and he loved the pictures and the story. Maybe you might like it too! Shall we get started? Yay!
Duck fish! Everyone has a dog except me. Hmm, why doesn’t he have a dog? Look at this little boy! Oh, look at this one; he’s chasing a squirrel. How many dogs can you find on this page? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten dogs!
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So I say to my mom, “I need a dog.” But my mom says, “Why do you need a dog when you have such a nice goldfish?” She always says things like that.
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Can you tell me what’s in the kitchen? And how many crayons can you find on the page? I explain that goldfish cannot catch sticks or go for walks or sit by your feet, and they never wag their tails. That is why I say, looking at her with my hypnotizing eyes, “I need a dog.” But my mom says, “We’ll see,” which really means “no.” I look sad, and my goldfish looks sad too. These are our sad looks. This is how you look when you’re sad.
So my mom says in her kind and caring voice, “But honey, how could we have a dog when we live on the 44th floor?” I think for a bit and say, “444 stairs would be very good exercise for a dog.” 44 floors sounds very high. Do you think that’s very high? Do you think you could see those little people down there if you’re on the 44th floor?
Then she says in her soothing and explaining voice, “But sweetheart, wouldn’t a dog be bored all day when I’m at work and you’re in school?” So I think a bit more and say, “He could read the paper.” My mom looks a bit irritated but also sorrowful, like this. Does your mom give you that look? Yeah, I know that look.
Then she says in her “this is really the end of the matter” voice, “Now darling, how could we possibly afford to feed a great big hungry dog?” But I say as quick as a fish, “I don’t want a big hungry dog; I want a very, very, very small dog that eats hardly anything at all—just scraps. Peas! Do you like peas? Do you eat your peas? Because you should!”
Then we all look how people look when the situation is hopeless, like this. After a bit, my mom says, “Well, if you can’t have what you want, you could try to want what you have.” She always says things like that. So then I look at my goldfish, and my goldfish looks at me with his hypnotizing eyes, and I think maybe, just maybe…
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So I teach my goldfish to catch a teeny tiny stick. It takes practice; it is a tough job. Sometimes I think it is a waste of time, but we get there in the end, and it feels so good! This is how good it feels! Whoa! Isn’t it cool when you learn a new trick, like how to ride a bike or how to throw a ball or kick a ball? It’s awesome, isn’t it?
I take my goldfish for walks, and we climb the 444 stairs together. When we are out, he reads the paper. He never gets bored. Do you read the paper? Does your mommy or daddy read the paper? Or maybe does your dog read the paper? He eats hardly anything at all—just crumbs.
In the evening, he sits by my feet, and I tell him stuff. He’s a great listener. He can’t even wag his tail to say “I love you.” He’s not just a goldfish; he’s a dogfish!
So now when I see everyone with their ordinary old dogs, I say, “Why would I need a dog when I have the best goldfish in the world?” I like saying that, and I look, and my mom looks, and my goldfish looks utterly, totally, blissfully happy, just like this.
Pets are the best, aren’t they? Do you have a pet? Tell us about your pet!
And that was “Dogfish” by Jillian Shields. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Don’t forget to give us a like and subscribe. See you again soon! Take care! Bye!
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