The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark

July 19, 2010
In this sequel to The Pout-Pout Fish, Mr. Fish promises Ms. Clam that he will retrieve her lost pearl, but as he swims closer to the dark sea bottom, "his heart flit-fluttered." With Miss Shimmer's help, however, he may find the pearl—and his inner courage. With colorful seascapes and bright-eyed ocean characters, Hanna gives this spirited tale light doses of humor ("Rest stop!" reads a neon sign on an anglerfish's lure), as Diesen delivers a gentle moral: "The ocean is wide,/ And the ocean is deep,/ But friends help friends—/ That's a promise we keep." Ages 2–5.

July 15, 2010

Mr. Fish heroically offers to find Ms. Clam's lost pearl, and as he ventures forth, gentle suspense ensues when he finds himself heading for deeper and darker waters. Young readers will enjoy the energetic and detailed cartoon-like illustrations of this friendly-yet-mysterious underwater world (the scenes deep in the ocean trench are particularly effective), while the rollicking, rhythmic text will have readers diving in with Mr. Fish as he repeatedly admits, "I'm FAST as a sailfish, I'm STRONG as a shark, I'm SMART as dolphin...But I'm scared of the dark." Fans of The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) will find just as much to love here, and any youngster who has been afraid of the dark will identify with Mr. Fish's struggle. Luckily, our hero has dedicated friends who help him deal with his anxiety, continue on his quest and keep his promise to Ms. Clam. The final notes of friendship and bravery will resonate with young readers. An entertaining read-aloud and a nice lighthearted vehicle for dealing with fear. (Picture book. 3-6)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2010

PreS-Gr 1-Mr. Fish goes on an undersea adventure to reclaim Ms. Clam's lost pearl. Repeating his mantra, "I'm FAST as a sailfish, /I'm STRONG as a shark, /I'm SMART as a dolphin," he nervously admits, "But I'm SCARED OF THE DARK!" As he ventures through deeper and darker waters, his resolution falters: "I know I made a promise, /But this fish is headin' back!" With the help of Miss Shimmer and Mr. Lantern, he not only conquers his fears, but also finds the missing pearl. The playful, rhyming verse is well matched with Hanna's funny cartoon illustrations. The whimsical sea creatures include a puffer fish reading Diesen's The Pout-Pout Fish (Farrar, 2008). A buoyant tale.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.