The Fish who Could Wish by John Bush & Korky Paul (1995)
56fish-who-could-wish-cdrom
The Fish who Could Wish different languages playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMHDmUmHNPJjyRTBPLzFP4xC8UypsIhZN
German/English interactive storybook CD-ROM based on the original book by John Bush & Korky Paul. The English version is narrated by Robbie Coltrane. For Windows 3.1/95 and Macintosh.
From: http://www.korkypaul.com/fishcd.html
ISBN 0192683373 Oxford University Press
Enter the wild and exuberant underwater world of "THE FISH WHO COULD WISH". This fun-packed multimedia adventure stars the wishful fish, a larger-than-life character with a huge personality. Watch in amazement as his dreams come true before your eyes, and you can play in his adventure. Children will love watching and listening as his dreams are created, and will be thrilled with all the funny and entertaining things that happen when they click on the objects on the screen. See the fish in his very own sports car, and hear him sing some of his favourite songs.
Reviews:
OUP has a deserved reputation for publishing the best in books for children and young people. Readers have only got to look at those recommended in this journal. And for their first move into Multimedia publication an author and illustrator have been chosen, along with a Glasgow-based development company, Inner Workings, who have created excellent screen reflections of their individual style.
I warmly recommend this CD-Rom as a publication which will give hours of pleasure and aesthetic enjoyment without any need to zap Aliens or indulge in other kinds of violence. Do look out for future publications.
PC HOME, Reviewed by Neil Jones
Successful storybooks usually work very well - given the multimedia treatment - and this electronic book from Oxford University Press looks set to continue the trend.
"THE FISH WHO COULD WISH" is a tuneful story featuring a fish who rides horses, drives cars and wears shades. Why? Because he can wish - that's why! Narrated by Actor/Comedian Robbie Coltrane, "THE FISH WHO COULD WISH" sports some beautifully drawn graphics and is chock full of gags and activities.
CD-ROM TODAY, SEPTEMBER '95
After several years of putting their definitive reference works on CD, Oxford University Press has decided to get in on the multimedia story book act, and it's kicking off the range with this title. It is based on an existing children's story and comes complete with a miniature version of the original book so that the player can follow the words while the story is read to them.
"THE FISH WHO COULD WISH" is a poem by John Bush, which is accompanied by some rather attractive water-coloured illustrations by artist Korky Paul. This CD version of the story is read by Scottish thespian, Robbie Coltrane. The developers at Inner Workings have also added the usual animations and bits for the junior listener to click his mouse pointer on, as well as some jaunty fiddle and harmonica tunes that play along in the background.
THE TALE OF THE FISH
Like other interactive books, the story of "THE FISH WHO COULD WISH" is quite short, only nine pages long, but the developers have obviously worked hard to pack as much into those nine pages as possible.
The wishing fish of the title wishes for some pretty bizzare stuff (a horse, a car, a submarine, a ski slope) so each page presents lots of new stuff to mess around with. Clicking on objects in the picture can result in a sparkly visual effect or a little tune being played. There's even a little sub-plot starring a couple of fishy lovers whose romance is played out in the background, as long as you click on the right part of the screen.
VERDICT
Though "THE FISH WHO COULD WISH" doesn't have quite as much going for it as some of the other interactive children's books on the market, it's an auspicious start for the Oxford range, and is worth considering for the Mac users in your nursery.
MAC ACTION, OCTOBER 1995 Paul Glancey
The Fish Who Could Wish is a hybrid PC and Macintosh disk.
Copyright 1995 Oxford University Press and its licensors. All rights reserved.
Copyright Inner Workings Ltd. 1995
Text copyright John Bush 1991
Illustrations copyright Korky Paul 1991
Oxford University Press Walton Street Oxford OX2 6DP, September 1995
More information on some of my uploaded videos is available at: https://www.digiadvies.com/nostalgiarealm