The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark

by Deborah Diesen, Dan Hanna (Illustrator)

Overview

Mr. Fish wants to help his friend Ms. Clam when she loses her pearl, but though he's fast as a sailfish, as smart as dolphin, and as strong as a shark, Mr. Fish has a secret: he's scared of the dark!

Very young children will swim along with Mr. Fish as he journeys deep into the ocean to new and mysterious places. They will discover, as Mr. Fish does, the power of friendship to light the way through the big-big dark.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374307981
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	08/17/2010
Series:	Pout-Pout Fish Adventure Series
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	214,997
Product dimensions:	10.12(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

DEBORAH DIESEN currently works for a nonprofit organization and has also worked as a librarian and a bookseller. She lives in Grand Ledge, Michigan. DAN HANNA has over ten years' experience in the animation industry, and his work has appeared on the Cartoon Network. He lives in Oxnard, California.

Editorial Reviews

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. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

The playful, rhyming verse is well matched with Hanna's funny cartoon illustrations.” —School Library Journal

“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.’.” —Publishers Weekly

“An entertaining read-aloud and a nice lighthearted vehicle for dealing with fear.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

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

School Library Journal

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)

Kirkus Reviews