The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute holiday tale values gifts that come from the heart.
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What's the Story?
Mr. Fish is stressing out over finding fabulous Christmas gifts for his friends. He goes from shop to shop but can't find a gift for each one that meets his expectations of what a perfect gift should be. When his friend Miss Shimmer clues him in that the "best gifts come straight from the heart," he finds that creating handmade gifts with her help makes the "dreary-wearies" disappear.
Is It Any Good?
This simple holiday tale carries a welcome anti-commercial message, but it may resonate more with stressed-out adult shoppers than kids. Still, the art is wonderful, with lots of fun details in the watery world below and a big payoff when Manta Claus arrives at the end. Preschoolers will enjoy the wordplay and repeated rhyming phrase in Mr. Fish's quest: "A gift should be big / And a gift should be bright / And a gift should be perfect / Guaranteed to bring delight … "
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the true meaning of Christmas. Is it just about gifts or something more?
Why do you think the Pout-Pout Fish books are so popular? Is it because of the art or the story?
Have you ever made a gift for someone? Might you try making one this Christmas?
Book Details
- Author: Deborah Diesen
- Illustrator: Dan Hanna
- Genre: Holiday
- Topics: Friendship, Holidays, Ocean Creatures
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date: September 8, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 2 - 6
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 30, 2020
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