The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

September 14, 2015
Holiday shopping can get anyone down, and “a certain gloomy fish” like Mr. Fish is especially vulnerable to retail fatigue. Mr. Fish has several gifts to buy and little time; racing from store to store, he either can’t find the right gift or arrives too late to purchase what he wants. Diesen’s earnest rhymes keep the story moving briskly, though a recurring refrain (“For a gift should be big,/ And a gift should be bright./ And a gift should be perfect—/ Guaranteed to bring delight”) has the opposite effect. Hanna’s illustrations are as expressive as in the previous books, and he doesn’t miss a chance to sneak some humor into the pages, whether it’s the homemade gifts Mr. Fish eventually assembles (such as a knit cap that octopus Mr. Eight wears like a tea cozy) or a closing appearance by Manta Claus himself. Ages 2–6.

September 1, 2015
The perennially popular pout-pout fish is back with a new problem: how to find perfect gifts for all his friends. Mr. Fish wears a "yuletide pout" in this holiday season because of his extensive shopping expectations. He wants his gifts to have "bling-zing," to be big, bright, and perfect, "guaranteed to bring delight." He shops till he plops but leaves the mall empty-handed "in a bout of pout-doubt." His wise friend Miss Shimmer saves the day, with lots of craft supplies and advice about how to make his own presents "with his very own fins!" Mr. Fish finds that his simple, handmade gifts do meet his high expectations and that the camaraderie and goodwill shared with friends are the really meaningful gifts of the season. In addition to the wordplay, the text offers a calming, sensible approach to holiday gift giving with reinforcement of the value of handmade gifts. Hanna's detailed illustrations of Mr. Fish's watery world are filled with funny details, as when the sea creatures all hold one another's tentacles as they celebrate the holiday. A holiday highlight is the arrival of Manta Claus, pulled in his sleigh by sea horses, of course. Mr. Fish's fans can chase away any holiday "dreary-wearies" with this latest entry in the series, though it's more likely to be adults who face the holiday shopping quandary than children. (Picture book. 3-6)

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October 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-Mr. Fish has a yuletide pout, as time is running out to find the perfect gift for all his friends on his holiday shopping list. The fun repetitive rhyme "A gift should be big/And a gift should be bright/And a gift should be perfect/Guaranteed to bring delight..." is one readers can chime in on as Mr. Fish keeps searching for the right presents. Lucky for Mr. Fish, his friend Miss Shimmer assures him that the "best gifts come straight from the heart." With the help of Miss Shimmer, he is able to make each of his friends his very own gift. VERDICT This addition to the "Pout-Pout Fish" series will bring holiday delight.-Diane Olivo-Posner Los Angeles Public Library

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