Publisher Description

"Holy freakin' snail shells! What is this book?" asked Edwin.This is a combination of a slightly short novel for kids over 8 and a self-help guide for the people who care about them.This story is about Edwin. He is an odd-looking fish. At least that's what everybody tells him. Well, they tell him he's a fish, anyway. Not much of a tail for a fish. The scales are wrong, too. The fins are a bit, well, grabby. More on that later. "Wait what? Tell me now," demanded Edwin.Sorry, Edwin, you'll spoil the adventure."Fine. I'm out of here."Now that he's out of earshot, I can tell you that it's about a crab adopted by fish growing up in an isolated tidepool with no other crabs. So, he grows up thinking he is merely an incompetent fish. There is a section in the back of the book with discussion questions for many of the themes in this book. The questions are designed for classrooms, for family therapists, and for caregivers in general. In these pages is an adventure of aquatic proportions. It's about finding out who you are and figuring out what to do about that.This highly unusual, but hopefully not too unusual book is by Briton Kolber, a licensed therapist who specializes in helping geeks accept and find the best in themselves. In a world that may remind you of Finding Nemo, it explores themes found in The Ugly Duckling, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Brene Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection. If you are a fan of the pragmatic wisdom of Brene Brown or in the humor of Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, or Christopher Healy (The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom) you will have a good time here. Illustrations by Nicoleta Dabijya add wonder and whimsy.

Author Biography

Briton Kolber is a family therapist specializing in geeks as a special population. He has taught Applied Improvisation at SAGA School, General Assembly, and Aspiring Youth / Ryther. He has done many odd things ranging from Research Scientist Associate at Applied Research Laboratories to Board Member of Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to computer sales to performing regularly with ComedySportz Austin to working in the film industry in Los Angeles. In what little free time he has left after grand adventures with his family, he runs, skis, writes sketch comedy, has conversations with his cats, and tries not to set himself on fire while cooking. Again.

Review

• "One day, the Great Hand plucked him from the tide pool and relocated him to a bigger, watery world filled with creatures he'd never seen before. There, he met others like himself. They helped Edwin see his true self and made him realize nothing was wrong with him. He is what he was born to be." Kameron Brook (Reedsy.com)

• "Make-believe meets mind-set in this charming self-affirming tale of Edwin, who is not a very convincing fish despite his best efforts. As if his failing confidence is not enough, Edwin is let down by his best friend, bullied by his schoolmates and even unknowingly pressured by his adopted parents. Add to this his slowly cracking scales, and Edwin really is in a pickle." (BookViralReviews.com)

• "An incredibly timely book - written for the younger crowd, with so many pearls for adult readers. It is funny, clever, extremely thoughtful, and necessary." Marit (GoodReads.com)

• "Another standout feature is Kolber's ability to tackle complex and controversial topics in a candid, conversational manner, making them more relatable through storytelling. He uses vivid imagery and shares anecdotes and personal life experiences to convey his message, making it easy for readers to connect. Kolber's warm writing style creates a sense of empathy and understanding, making it easier for readers to engage with difficult concepts. Through casual statements and conversations among the sea animals, the author subtly shares very important and powerful insights that have a profound impact on the reader." Zainab Wasif (Online Book Club)

• "The author breaks the fourth wall in many scenes and addresses readers directly. At first glance, this seems like a simple children's story about self-acceptance and love, but it goes deeper than this. Briton Kolber addresses gender identity, adoption, racism, religious beliefs, and dark humor, which can trigger some sensitive readers. The author highlights key moments from the story that relate to these topics. The last section has brief discussions and questions. I loved this concept because it is unique, and the recap makes the story memorable. The author uses a calm tone that can be used to talk to children, which fits perfectly for young readers." Doreen Chombu (Readers' Favorite)

• This is not a tale about any one problem, or any one way of not-fitting-in. It is about the experience of a little being who does not fit in, despite heroic efforts to do so, and about the kind (and sometimes scary) actions of others who help him to know himself as he truly is. In the second half, the author makes equally heroic efforts to affirm whatever dearly-held preconceptions a reader might have, and gently suggests that holding those preconceptions tightly might not be the only way to live. As a grown-up, I connected to the second half better - though my inner kid liked the humor in the tale! -Amanda Franklin, M Ed., LMHC Faculty Antioch University Seattle (Retired)

• " Not Fishy Enough is a parable about how many individuals experience the social media age. Modern life and ancient beliefs have collided to make us feel distant from others and from ourselves. We are constantly asking, 'What am I here for?' and 'Where do I fit in?'. Not Fishy Enough goes a long way to providing us insight that just might help us find those answers, simply and elegantly."- William R. Dodson, Author of Virtually International

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