Edouard Manceau French (text) and Daniel Hahn (Translator), Fodo Dodo Goes Fishing, Gecko Press, July 2023, 28 pp., RRP $22.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781776575039
Fodo Dodo Goes Fishing is a quirky, simple story for preschoolers to enjoy with their parents.
The main characters, Fodo Dodo and Noodle are child-like anthropomorphic animal characters. They live in a world of play and make-believe just like many 3 and 4-year-olds. In this book they are going to go fishing for dinner – in the bath. And what do you know? They make a terrific catch, some stripey underpants.
But there is trouble when another friend, Dimple, is called to partake in the meal they have cooked up. Is Dimple more offended that he is being offered underwear as a meal, or that it is his underwear?
This vibrantly illustrated picture book has style, employing bold colours and clean lines, that reminds me of a cross between Jane Foster and Stephanie Blake. Originally a published in French, and published in English by Gecko Press, this book retains its European vibe.
While the story is very basic, apt for young children, the publication and the illustrations are of a high quality. It makes me wonder if the key joke was lost when the text was translated, or perhaps I just didn’t get it.
Reviewed by Cherie Bell
