Grades 4-8
Tumblehome
Learning Publishing
A winner of the national K-12
OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TRADE BOOK AWARD
A joint project of the
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the Children’s Book Council
**CLASSROOM BUNDLES can be PURCHASED
AT OR BELOW WHOLESALE*
Email the author: Rachelleburk@gmail.com
Author Visit Programs!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
THE
WALKING FISH is a middle-grade (grades 4-8) gem that’s as wildly entertaining as
it is sneakily educational. With great settings and vivid, diverse
characters, and at times hilarious, this book presents the adventure of science
in a way that’s sure to appeal to girls and boys in grades 4-8. The
facts are accurate and thoughtfully explained, without weighing down the
fun or the story’s momentum.
This is the
humorous, high-stakes tale of Alexis, an ordinary girl who makes an
extraordinary scientific discovery. From the very first pages—when
Grandpa’s chainsaw mishap indirectly leads to her love of fishing—the blend of
science, humor, and heart keeps readers hooked. Alexis soon finds herself at
the center of a mystery that dips into biology, geology, cave exploration, demanding
both curiosity and courage.
When Alexis
and her best friend Darshan discover something impossible in a pond created
when the lake overflowed: a pale pink, eyeless fish that crawls on its fins and
should not be able to survive in the lake’s mineral-heavy water. With the
help of a research team, the kids embark on a dye-tracing survey by helicopter,
sonar and deep-water testing by boat, and other-worldly cave expeditions. But
as discoveries mount, they must outsmart Dr. Mertz, the scientist determined to
steal the credit. When Alexis follows one final hunch, a reckless decision puts
her life at risk and puts her closest friendship on the line.
A vivid
cast brings the adventure to life: Alexis, fierce and determined; Darshan, the
thoughtful artist who keeps her grounded; a pun-cracking grandpa; a brilliant
teen with autism who becomes an unlikely hero; an eccentric professor; and a librarian who keeps
misplacing her hearing aids. Even the scheming Dr. Mertz proves surprisingly
complex, with motives that aren’t as simple as they first appear, and capable
of redemption.
Brimming
with scientific twists and emotional stakes, THE WALKING FISH celebrates
perseverance, discovery, kindness, and respect for the natural world. Science
and story work together here in irresistible tandem, making this an ideal
choice for kids who love adventure—and for the ones who don’t yet know they
love science. Teachers and parents will also find it a ready-made STEM
companion, with free lesson guides and engaging activities that extend the
adventure beyond the last page.
Listed on numerous "Best STEM books" lists, including:
- NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books K-12: https://share.google/kFejEdCnuCUZ4YkEb
- Project Learning Tree: https://www.plt.org/recommended-reading/the-walking-fish/
- STEMnext.org: https://stemnext.org/science-chapter-books-launchpads-for-middle-schoolers/
- ScienceBuddies.org: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/summer-of-stem-books
- Laney Lee Science: https://laney-lee.com/great-books-for-new-or-returning-teachers
- TeachingBooks.net: https://library.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=95031
- MastersInDataScience.org: https://www.mastersindatascience.org/resources/47-stem-books-for-k-12-readers/#middle-science
LETTER FROM A PARENT: Dear Rachelle, My son, the one who is not a reader, has been carrying "The Walking Fish" all around the house. He's been reading it in bed before he goes to sleep. He even excused himself from dinner to get it and sat back down at the table and read while the rest of us finished eating!!! I have never seen him so engrossed in any book before!! Thank you! ~Noelle Riesenman (parent of Matt, a Maple Road School student)
There are THREE curriculum guides for this book created by different sources:
Here is a guide developed by the Tumblehome Learning, the publisher of The Walking Fish: CLICK for Common Core CLASSROOM GUIDE
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Click HERE for a 36 page middle school classroom guide by NITTY GRITTY SCIENCE. It covers Reading, Vocabulary, and Science. (developed by a science teaching organization, NittyGrittyScience.org, not affiliated with the publisher or author) |
For a guide designed by PROJECT LEARNING TREE, a national environmental education organization, Please click HERE. (https://www.plt.org/recommended-reading/the-walking-fish/)
OTHER PRINTABLE TEACHER-APPROVED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
| COMPARE & CONTRAST 2 CHARACTERS Click below to print blank Venn Diagram  |
| Suggested activity: COMPARE/CONTRAST 2 CHARACTERS Click to print blank Venn Diagram! |
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Praise for The Walking Fish
click links for full reviews
click links for full reviews
"I was captivated by the charm of the characters and the uncomplicated elegance of the writing. The best part is that the book is about science! The story combines biology and geology, puns and quirky characters in academic and adventure settings, with excitement such as helicopter rides and spelunking." ~Patricia Donahue, Middle School Science Teacher
"...A fantastic mix of creative and realistic. The protagonist Alexis has so much determination and perseverance, a quality that is incredibly inspirational to younger children." ~Saloni Lad, "My Fantabulous Bookshelf" blogger
"This book’s unique combination of humor and mystery will have your students begging for more!" ~ Laney Lee Science. laney-lee.com/great-books-for-new-or-returning-teachers/
"The science in this book is accurate, well presented, and not
overwhelming....Rachelle Burk does a good job of
incorporating interesting characters that challenge Alexis as a friend,
daughter and scientist ... But the best character, by far, is Alexis herself who is
fearless and relentless in her pursuit of the truth...It will especially appeal to those with an interest in
science but there is enough action and character development
to keep everyone turning the page. Recommended." ~Yolanda Ridge, Author and book reviewer
"I love a good mystery – and when it
comes to the ecological and the geological merging together into harmonic
symphony of symbiosis, truly what could be more wicked brilliant!?...You get
wrapped up in the goings-on long before you realize you’re absorbing historical
data...[Alexis has] a nice grounding of curiosity tipped with
determination and a spirit of ingenuity…I loved the diversity knitted inside the story… I even appreciated
seeing how trauma is dealt with and re-directed through positive therapy... It is a beautiful layering of
narrative that teaches children without having them realize they’ve encountered
a life lesson…it encourages their empathy to increase and their world to expand…I am truly hoping the hinting of a
sequel is going to take shape inside the authors’ minds because this book would
make an excellent ‘series’ of stories for Middle Graders! A very heart-warming story about a girl, an unusual
fish, and the unity of bridging the gap between man and nature."
~Jorie Loves A Story Book Reviews
"The author does a great job of weaving together the scientific and the literary and creating an entertaining story for young readers. The determination and perseverance of the main character, Alexis, is noteworthy and an inspiration to readers. The narration is simple, charming and detailed, making the scenes very visual and clear...The story is developed well and the characters are well portrayed so that they leave a lasting impression in the minds of readers. I enjoyed the pace and movement of this engaging story. It is fluid and captures one's attention. It can be used for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries as it takes the imagination of readers to another level."
"The author does a great job of weaving together the scientific and the literary and creating an entertaining story for young readers. The determination and perseverance of the main character, Alexis, is noteworthy and an inspiration to readers. The narration is simple, charming and detailed, making the scenes very visual and clear...The story is developed well and the characters are well portrayed so that they leave a lasting impression in the minds of readers. I enjoyed the pace and movement of this engaging story. It is fluid and captures one's attention. It can be used for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries as it takes the imagination of readers to another level."
~READER'S FAVORITE 5-STAR REVIEW
The Walking Fish begins, appropriately, with a ‘hook’:
“When you get right down to it, I only discovered the Walking Fish because Grandpa got sloppy with a chainsaw. Had he been more careful cutting down the maple tree, he would not have lost most of the fingers of his right hand. ‘Four of my favorite fingers,’ he said. Without them, fishing was a bit of a struggle.” And the short opening section that follows sets an idyllic scene between an obviously bright young girl and her “punning” grandfather.”
They are in “his little fishing boat,” floating desultorily on a lake on a “sunny fall day,” and discussing in a comfortable familiar way whether our narrator will be willing to serve as hook-baiter for her grandfather whose hook-baiting hand can no longer handle the wiggling worms.
The introductory scene-setting happens in fewer than two pages, and in that short space, those eight-year-old [readers] are already invested in characters, scene, and story. The truth is that this seventy-year-old reviewer was reading with more than a little curiosity by this point. I like this sharp, nearly-adolescent girl, trading puns with her endearing grandparent; I like her quite a lot. By the end of Chapter Two, she has been assured by her father, a high school science teacher, backed up by an environmental scientist and a neighbor at Glacial Lake, where they spend their summers, that although the Fish and Wildlife people have attempted to stock the lake, fish just don’t seem to survive, "something about the minerals in the water.” ...The chapter’s last scene finds our intrepid explorer flat on her belly beside the lake, having abandoned for the moment her search for frogs, gazing into the settling water at “a creature like nothing I had ever seen. A fish! And it appeared to be standing on little legs and waving up at me.”
Authors Rachelle Burk & Kopel Burk, MD, have created an irresistible, tightly crafted book that fulfills every purpose for which Tumblehome Learning exists–and they have done it by the bottom of page 8! ~Review by author and blogger Dean Robertson (read full blog about the publisher)
In recent years, I have read many books in the juvenile fiction genre that are wildly popular. The Walking Fish is far superior to any of them. It is certainly better written while retaining its appeal to adolescent readers and is an inspiration for young women interested in science with its portrayal of a strong female lead character.
The Walking Fish serves as an excellent introduction for younger readers into the realm of STEM related subjects. It is an excellent choice to be used as supplemental curriculum in a science class, ELA class or an interdisciplinary class when combined with the free high quality teaching guide (pdf) found on the publisher’s website. Extension activities are provided to differentiate instruction and links are included to additional resources. As an ELA supplement, it addresses both key concepts and skills. For science classes, it covers key concepts in Life Science and Earth Systems.
Beyond academics, The Walking Fish is equally appealing as a choice for ‘reading for pleasure’. The plot and character development are superb. The authors obviously did their research as evidenced by their accurate portrayal of scientific facts woven into the story.
Beyond academics, The Walking Fish is equally appealing as a choice for ‘reading for pleasure’. The plot and character development are superb. The authors obviously did their research as evidenced by their accurate portrayal of scientific facts woven into the story.
~ Review By Lisa Conrad
If you can find a book that includes science and adventure, and is FUNNY, for girls, then you know you have a winner! ...And because it deals with archeology, geology and biology, (aka STEM) you can easily work in some trips to your local museums and STEM activity centers, for more exploration and education! ... The book is so engaging and endearing...good luck getting them to put it down! Miss Grace is hoping for more books from the authors with Alexis and Darshan, and I heartedly agree! ~Review by Bless Their Hearts Mom
"Burk accurately portrays science and responsible caving without watering it down or taking away the adventure..an exciting read for young minds!" ~ Dianne Joop, Education Director, National Cave and Karst Research Institute
“When you get right down to it, I only discovered the Walking Fish because Grandpa got sloppy with a chainsaw. Had he been more careful cutting down the maple tree, he would not have lost most of the fingers of his right hand. ‘Four of my favorite fingers,’ he said. Without them, fishing was a bit of a struggle.” And the short opening section that follows sets an idyllic scene between an obviously bright young girl and her “punning” grandfather.”
They are in “his little fishing boat,” floating desultorily on a lake on a “sunny fall day,” and discussing in a comfortable familiar way whether our narrator will be willing to serve as hook-baiter for her grandfather whose hook-baiting hand can no longer handle the wiggling worms.
The introductory scene-setting happens in fewer than two pages, and in that short space, those eight-year-old [readers] are already invested in characters, scene, and story. The truth is that this seventy-year-old reviewer was reading with more than a little curiosity by this point. I like this sharp, nearly-adolescent girl, trading puns with her endearing grandparent; I like her quite a lot. By the end of Chapter Two, she has been assured by her father, a high school science teacher, backed up by an environmental scientist and a neighbor at Glacial Lake, where they spend their summers, that although the Fish and Wildlife people have attempted to stock the lake, fish just don’t seem to survive, "something about the minerals in the water.” ...The chapter’s last scene finds our intrepid explorer flat on her belly beside the lake, having abandoned for the moment her search for frogs, gazing into the settling water at “a creature like nothing I had ever seen. A fish! And it appeared to be standing on little legs and waving up at me.”
Authors Rachelle Burk & Kopel Burk, MD, have created an irresistible, tightly crafted book that fulfills every purpose for which Tumblehome Learning exists–and they have done it by the bottom of page 8! ~Review by author and blogger Dean Robertson (read full blog about the publisher)
More reviews:
How This Book Came To Be:
One day, Kopel asked his niece, Rachelle, if she’d co-write a children’s book with him. When he explained that it was about a girl who discovers a prehistoric fish, Rachelle—who was already a published children’s author—said, “I remember you telling me that story when I was a little girl over 40 years ago! It’s your story. How about if I just edit it for you?”
But one year, many chapters, and several new characters later, it really had become their story. The Walking Fish is a middle-grade science-adventure novel filled with well-researched science, page-turning excitement, and quirky characters. The process, which included countless laugh-till-they-cried moments, had brought uncle and niece closer than they’d ever been.
Rachelle soon landed a contract with Tumblehome Learning, an educational publisher whose mission is to get children excited about science through captivating science-based fiction stories. With the release of The Walking Fish on April 1, 2015, the book became Kopel’s first publication at the age of 86, and Rachelle’s 5th children’s book. Rachelle has since published over 20 books for ages 1-14.
About the Authors
Rachelle Burk is a children’s author, social
worker, clown, and storyteller. She writes fiction and nonfiction for children,
including books, magazine pieces, and poetry. Rachelle scuba dives, explores
caves, hikes, and volunteers on a rescue squad.
Kopel Burk is a retired physician
who writes, sculpts, and remains active on the bioethics committee at his
hospital. He conceived the idea for Walking Fish over 40 years ago,
when he told early versions of the story to his young children, nieces and nephews.
His co-author is one of those nieces. At 86, this is his first book. (Post Script: Kopel Burk died in 2022 at the age of 94)
Rachelle searches for new species with cavers from University of West Virginia (Sept 2014)
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| Found it! A clay Walking Fish! |
