Goodbye, Koi
Goodbye, Koi
5.0/5
Goodreads

Goodbye, Koi

Written by Jack Wong
Hardcover
$19.99
$18.99
4 - 8
Reading age
48
Page count
Sep 15, 2026
Publication date

Buy from other retailers

AmazonBookshop

What's Goodbye, Koi About

Publisher Summary

From the award-winning creator of the hugely popular When You Can Swim, Jack Wong delivers a tender, visually stunning picture book about change, family, and saying goodbye.Inspired by Jack’s own childhood move from Hong Kong to Canada, Goodbye, Koi is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to face change and hold onto memories.When a young boy learns that his family must leave behind their home – and the koi fish he has always cared for – his world fills with questions. What will happen to the fish? Will they be safe, happy, and cared for in their new home? Through his wonder and worry, readers glimpse the universal feelings that come with any life transition: curiosity, uncertainty, and the hope that those we love will be okay.Lushly illustrated in the tradition of Chinese brush painting, the art itself tells part of the story – shifting styles to capture both the practical tasks of preparing for a move and the dreamlike, swirling koi that represent the boy’s thoughts. This layered visual storytelling invites children to notice cultural details, interpret emotions, and connect their own experiences of change to the boy’s.Goodbye, Koi will resonate with any reader who has ever had to say farewell – whether to a pet, a place, or a way of life.

Reviews

    The Creative Behind the Book

    What Has Jack Wong Said About This Book

    Nothing yet! Let Jack Wong know that you want to hear from them about their book.

    More Books by Jack Wong

      picture • 48 Pages
      When You Can Swim
      Jack Wong
      View more

    Similar Books to Goodbye, Koi

      picture • 48 Pages
      Pocket Full of Colors
      7.0
      Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, Brigette Barrager
      picture • 40 Pages
      Boats on the Bay
      6.8
      Jeanne Walker Harvey, Grady McFerrin
      picture • 42 Pages
      The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth
      6.8
      Chris Burkard, Illustrated by: David McClellan
      picture • 48 Pages
      Where the Wild Things Are
      6.7
      Maurice Sendak
      picture • 40 Pages
      A Letter to My Teacher
      6.5
      Deborah Hopkinson, Nancy Carpenter
      picture • 44 Pages
      Diana's White House Garden
      6.5
      Elisa Carbone, Jen Hill
      picture • 52 Pages
      This Is How We Do It
      6.5
      Series
      Matt Lamothe
      picture • 48 Pages
      The Crayon Man
      6.5
      Natascha Biebow, Steven Salerno
      picture • 40 Pages
      The Grizzly Bear Who Lost His GRRRRR!
      6.4
      Rob Biddulph
      picture • 40 Pages
      The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
      6.4
      Susan Wojciechowski, P.J. Lynch

    Book Details

    ISBN
    9781338830996
    Publication Date
    September 15, 2026
    Publisher
    Orchard Books
    Page Count
    48
    Audience
    Picture
    Reading Age
    4 - 8 years

    Contribute to this page

    Core Score - 35%

    Still needs the basics.

    Depth Score - 9%

    Just the barebones.

    Improve this page

    Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

    Bookroo

    Book Clubs

    Follow Bookroo