Finny: A Fish in the Forest
A Magical Adventure of Friendship, Courage, and Finding Your Way Home
A beautifully illustrated read-aloud about friendship, courage, curiosity, teamwork, and finding beauty in unfamiliar places.
By Cindy Gerard
The moment this book is for
"What if the only way home is through a world you have never seen before?"
Finny knows every ripple in Willow Pond — until a magical whirlpool sweeps him far from home and drops him into an enchanted forest inside a wobbling bubble of pond water.
Finny knows every ripple in Willow Pond. He knows where the dragonflies skim, where his little sister hides among the reeds, and where his family gathers beneath the pink evening sky.
But one sunny afternoon, a magical whirlpool sweeps Finny far from home and drops him into an enchanted forest — inside a wobbling bubble of pond water.
With the help of Squeaky the squirrel, Rosie the owl, and Barnaby the badger, Finny follows a shimmering stream toward the doorway home. Along the way, he discovers glowing mushrooms, hidden tunnels, and wonders he never imagined.
Then a mudslide blocks the stream and traps his new friends. Finny can follow the silver current toward home — or turn back and help.
To save his friends, one little fish must trust what he knows, work together with others, and discover just how brave he can be.
Finny: A Fish in the Forest is a beautifully illustrated read-aloud about friendship, courage, curiosity, teamwork, and finding beauty in unfamiliar places.
What you'll learn
- How curiosity can turn an unfamiliar place into an adventure
- Why working together helps us do what we cannot do alone
- How courage grows when we trust what we know
- Why helping friends can mean choosing the harder right path
- How to find beauty and belonging in unexpected places
Key takeaways
- Home is not only a place — it is the people who love you.
- Courage is doing what is right, even when you feel small.
- Friends can look very different and still fit together.
- The unfamiliar world is full of wonders waiting to be noticed.
What readers say
"A charming story about being different, discovering where you belong, and having the courage to keep going. The colorful adventure creates natural opportunities to talk about confidence, kindness, and accepting others."
— Reader review — A sweet story with an important message
"Finny's adventure is creative and entertaining, while also sharing a meaningful lesson about believing in yourself. The kind of story children will enjoy and adults will feel good about reading with them."
— Reader review — Imaginative, heartwarming, and fun to read
"Finny's journey can help children understand that it is okay to feel out of place and that differences can become strengths. A lovely addition to a family bookshelf, elementary classroom, or school library."
— Reader review — A wonderful book for home or the classroom
Finny, a Fish in the Forest
Meet the characters
Short introductions to the friends Finny meets in the forest — perfect for a read-aloud warm-up.
Meet Finny
A little goldfish who finds himself far from the water he knows.
Meet Squeaky
A bright-eyed squirrel who shares what he has before he's asked.
Meet Rosie
A wise forest owl who listens first and answers gently.
Meet Barnaby
A warm-hearted badger who makes room for a new friend.