Smile, Pout-Pout Fish

November 25, 2013
The “glum-glum” star of The Pout-Pout Fish appears in his first original board book, which touches on basic emotions. A straightforward rhyme guides the story, as the frowny blue fish interacts with a wormlike creature that pokes out from holes in the seabed. “No need to be worried./ No need to be sad,” Diesen writes as the worm disappears from one hole and pops up in another, leaving the pout-pout fish with tears welling up in his eyes. Hanna’s mixed-media artwork makes each of the fish’s emotions crystal clear as the book moves toward a happy resolution: “What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Ages 1–4.

This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna's The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers. Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: "Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown." He explains that there's no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: "How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!" Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that's needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish's features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish's face. An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2014
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna's The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: "Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown." He explains that there's no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: "How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!" Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that's needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish's features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish's face.An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.