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The Pout-Pout Fish
The Pout-Pout Fish
Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading "dreary wearies" isn't really his destiny.
"Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
in a permanent pout.
Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?
Is there something he can learn
From an unexpected friend?"
So goes this tale about friendship, emotions and dealing with life's inevitable troubles. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in this fun fish story that's sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.
Deborah Diesen brings us her first book, The Pout Pout Fish, which has now become a timeless classic for multiple generations of children. The beautiful illustrations that accompany it come from none-other than Dan Hanna as his first book after ten years' experience in the animation industry.
"Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
in a permanent pout.
Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?
Is there something he can learn
From an unexpected friend?"
So goes this tale about friendship, emotions and dealing with life's inevitable troubles. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in this fun fish story that's sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.
Deborah Diesen brings us her first book, The Pout Pout Fish, which has now become a timeless classic for multiple generations of children. The beautiful illustrations that accompany it come from none-other than Dan Hanna as his first book after ten years' experience in the animation industry.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
446 people are currently reading
3790 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Diesen
78 books122 followersDeborah Diesen is the author of The Pout-Pout Fish, a rhyming children's picture book illustrated by Dan Hanna and published by Farrar Straus Giroux. Her book The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered Baby Brigade was published by Tricycle Press. She lives in Michigan. Visit her web site at www.deborahdiesen.com and her blog at jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com
http://us.macmillan.com/author/debora...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/debora...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,290 reviews
August 5, 2024
The Pout-Pout Fish is a hauntingly realistic portrayal of one fish's journey through depression and self-loathing.
Much like what happens in real life, his well-meaning friends try to help him by giving him sage advice like, "turn that frown upside down" .
But their words of wisdom go unheeded.
Ultimately he realizes that only the love of a good woman can lift him out of his sadness. It brought tears to my eyes when he realized he was a Smooch-Smooch Fish!
Ok. Maybe not.
But.
My little girl did think it was hysterical when I made the Bluub...Bluuuub...Bluuuuuuuub sounds!
Much like what happens in real life, his well-meaning friends try to help him by giving him sage advice like, "turn that frown upside down" .
But their words of wisdom go unheeded.
Ultimately he realizes that only the love of a good woman can lift him out of his sadness. It brought tears to my eyes when he realized he was a Smooch-Smooch Fish!
Ok. Maybe not.
But.
My little girl did think it was hysterical when I made the Bluub...Bluuuub...Bluuuuuuuub sounds!
August 19, 2015
The Kiss-Kiss Fish needs to have a refresher course on consent before I read this book again.
December 13, 2019
Pout-Pout Fish is a crabby bastard that spreads his bad mood among the denizens of the ocean. Will he ever change his ways?
For my cousin's baby shower, she requested kid's books instead of cards. My wife ordered three books and wound up keeping this one. Luckily, we've since had a baby and I've read this book to Miles a dozen times already. Actually, since it's written in verse, I normally rap it in my middle age white guy style. Sadly, my wife has yet to lay down a beat for me as of press time.
Anyway, I guess this fun little story is about depression and how people telling you to cheer up just doesn't work. Or possibly how getting laid can get you to quit being a crabby bastard. Anyway, it's fun to read to a baby. The art is pretty cute.
For my cousin's baby shower, she requested kid's books instead of cards. My wife ordered three books and wound up keeping this one. Luckily, we've since had a baby and I've read this book to Miles a dozen times already. Actually, since it's written in verse, I normally rap it in my middle age white guy style. Sadly, my wife has yet to lay down a beat for me as of press time.
Anyway, I guess this fun little story is about depression and how people telling you to cheer up just doesn't work. Or possibly how getting laid can get you to quit being a crabby bastard. Anyway, it's fun to read to a baby. The art is pretty cute.
March 20, 2017
This is basically a children's book version of "Hey gorgeous, why don't you smile more?" Thbbbbhththt.
As anyone who knows either of us might imagine, neither Sam nor I appreciated that message. So. back to the library it goes.
Also. Consent! We can teach kids about consent! This book does not.
Cute illustrations though.
As anyone who knows either of us might imagine, neither Sam nor I appreciated that message. So. back to the library it goes.
Also. Consent! We can teach kids about consent! This book does not.
Cute illustrations though.
February 15, 2018
P-P F is a funny story that will teach young children that they have control over how they interact with others - very important lesson.
April 14, 2015
So rhythmic it reads itself -- love the phrases ("a kaleidoscope of mope") and the smooching finale. The best of the bunch so far.
November 7, 2021
Read for my toddler’s bedtime. A fun rhyming story about a fish with a pout pout face. He swims along and meet different fishes under the sea. Everyone makes a comment about his pouty face except one and it changes him.
Read from kindle unlimited.
Read from kindle unlimited.
June 5, 2017
First, we have animals telling the pout-pout fish he should smile, because they don't wat to see his frown. NOPE. Don't go around telling other people to smile. It's none of your business and it's rude.
Then, we have the kiss-kiss fish and the pout-pout fish randomly kissing other dish, unprovoked and uninvited. NOPE. Guess what? That's called sexual assault.
This book is full of messages I don't want to pass on to any kids
Then, we have the kiss-kiss fish and the pout-pout fish randomly kissing other dish, unprovoked and uninvited. NOPE. Guess what? That's called sexual assault.
This book is full of messages I don't want to pass on to any kids
August 26, 2016
Don't Read This To My Kids
This book sends absolutely the wrong message, in more ways than one. I hated it so much that I posted a video review of it on YouTube. You can find it on my channel, "Don't Read This To My Kids". Basically, the main character is upset, and the only thing his "friends" tell him is that he should smile for them, oblivious to the possibility that he might have a legitimate problem of some kind, or that feeling sad is even okay in this aquatic world. They don't want to deal with his feelings. Then a stranger arrives and kisses him on the face, which magically fixes the problem, suggesting to impressionable kids (as other reviewers here have pointed out) that going around kissing people you don't know is acceptable and in fact desirable. My video review goes into more detail. https://youtu.be/-Ja9OZBC71c
This book sends absolutely the wrong message, in more ways than one. I hated it so much that I posted a video review of it on YouTube. You can find it on my channel, "Don't Read This To My Kids". Basically, the main character is upset, and the only thing his "friends" tell him is that he should smile for them, oblivious to the possibility that he might have a legitimate problem of some kind, or that feeling sad is even okay in this aquatic world. They don't want to deal with his feelings. Then a stranger arrives and kisses him on the face, which magically fixes the problem, suggesting to impressionable kids (as other reviewers here have pointed out) that going around kissing people you don't know is acceptable and in fact desirable. My video review goes into more detail. https://youtu.be/-Ja9OZBC71c
July 19, 2017
It was pretty cute, but I also had some consent questions for the kissing fish. You can't just go around kissing grumpy people.
January 8, 2016
So, here's the thing. My 1-year-old loves the rhyming patter and the Blub Bluuub Bluuuuuub. And we can treat it as a cute, well-illustrated story about a fish affected by the dispositional attribution fallacy.
But.
If you imagine swapping the gender roles, it is CREEPY:
"Hey there, girl, why don't you give me a smile?"
"Uh, I'd really rather not."
"C'mon, cheer up, luv."
"Please stop pestering me."
[A stranger swoops in making unrequested, nonconsensual advances.]
"Oh, wow, now I am liberated! I'm gonna make out with everyone!"
So yeah---not sure how we'll feel about the book once the kid is old enough to understand more than Blub Bluuub Bluuuuub.
But.
If you imagine swapping the gender roles, it is CREEPY:
"Hey there, girl, why don't you give me a smile?"
"Uh, I'd really rather not."
"C'mon, cheer up, luv."
"Please stop pestering me."
[A stranger swoops in making unrequested, nonconsensual advances.]
"Oh, wow, now I am liberated! I'm gonna make out with everyone!"
So yeah---not sure how we'll feel about the book once the kid is old enough to understand more than Blub Bluuub Bluuuuub.
November 17, 2019
Gosh I love this book. It’s short, simple, fun to read, and the illustrations are adorable. Love....it!
December 31, 2019
Good story to introduce handling depression to little ones
January 5, 2024
He’s so me bro.
August 4, 2008
I have young twin boys who get a story every night, so we try to get a good selection from the library. This is one that has passed the twins test and will have to be purchased for our home library.
It's sing-songy and has a repeated refrain which the boys love, and the pictures are active enough that they are not always reaching to turn the page, they actually look at the pictures as we read.
It only gets four stars instead of five because the ending is a little weak.
The story is this: A Pout-Pout fish is bringing everyone around him down. Each of his friends ask him to cheer up in a different way. He keeps saying that he's a Pout-Pout fish, and that's just the way he is. Until one day a beautiful fish he's never seen before swims over and gives him a kiss on his pouting lips. Ta-da! Now he's happy and a Kiss-Kiss fish. *smooch*
It's sing-songy and has a repeated refrain which the boys love, and the pictures are active enough that they are not always reaching to turn the page, they actually look at the pictures as we read.
It only gets four stars instead of five because the ending is a little weak.
The story is this: A Pout-Pout fish is bringing everyone around him down. Each of his friends ask him to cheer up in a different way. He keeps saying that he's a Pout-Pout fish, and that's just the way he is. Until one day a beautiful fish he's never seen before swims over and gives him a kiss on his pouting lips. Ta-da! Now he's happy and a Kiss-Kiss fish. *smooch*
June 10, 2019
Calling all adults who love 💕 reading to a little one! This is the funniest story with great prose to boot. Loved this so much, I love to tell others about it to share the joy! I recommend it to all new aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas!
I loved reading this story to my older granddaughter so much that when I found The Pout Pout Fish 🐟 Goes on Vacation, it was a must have for the newest granddaughter.
I loved reading this story to my older granddaughter so much that when I found The Pout Pout Fish 🐟 Goes on Vacation, it was a must have for the newest granddaughter.
April 6, 2020
Aww, poor uggo with his resting blah face.
November 14, 2021
Looks like if you submit a review through the Kindle app, it overwrites an existing goodreads review. Oops... So now you get to see both.
First up, my Amazon review. Less thorough but gets to the point immediately:
Nope. Terrible lesson for kids!
A little fish is sad. His friends bully him for it by telling him that his frown is unattractive and he's being a downer - that he should just smile and have hope instead. Then a female fish he's never met before comes along, kisses him, and swims away. Suddenly, he's happy and goes around kissing everyone he sees. The final line, presented as if the moral, is: "Sometimes a kiss is all it takes to turn things around."
Here's a better idea: don't teach kids to torment people with depression or general sadness and not to accept being treated that way. And definitely don't condone kissing or accepting kisses from total strangers without consent!
------------
And now, the review I wrote for goodreads which includes quotes and more details:
Wow, so... I don't even know how to articulate how much I hate the message of this book. I wouldn't let it near any child I cared about, unless they were too young to understand the words. And even then, I'd be hesitant because it portrays a fish being very sad and his so-called friends making him feel worse about it then a whole bunch of random kissing.
No, you did not read that wrong.
This book is about the "pout-pout" fish who is both sad (enough it reads as depression to me, as someone who deals with that issue myself) and just generally a fish with downturned lips. It's difficult to tell which is intended more prominently, because he mentions that it's just his face and how he is - which could be literal or metaphorical. Either way, the fact he's sad and/or pouting is referred to as spreading a dreary mood... because who cares about the poor fish who's pouting, I guess?
Now, before you think I'm reading too much into this, let me assure you that not only is the glumness of his 'pouting' constantly referred to as a downer but I'm not just inferring his friends guilting and insulting him for it.
Anyone who's had the misfortune of dealing with depression knows how this goes. Selfish and/or ignorant jerks who claim to care about you tell you to just smile, as if the expression on your face will magically fix the sadness in your mind. They complain that you're 'sulking' and point out how unappealing your sadness is as if they can shame you into faking a smile until it becomes real.
And what does this poor, little fish's friends do? Exactly that! Something we should be teaching children to avoid doing is presented as if totally normal.
Now, I will give credit that this doesn't make him any happier. But this isn't a story about having reasonable compassion or helping friends who are struggling or not saying hurtful things to people who are sad. No, see, it's about how apparently all this little 'pout-pout fish' needs is to be kissed and discover he was actually a 'kiss-kiss fish' all along, unaware he just needed to share joy by kissing everyone instead of pouting all day.
Promise I'm not making that up!
After all his friends are done being mean to the pouting fish, a female fish comes along, doesn't say anything to him, and kisses him without asking before swimming away. All the sudden, he's no longer sad. See, now he decides to spread 'the cheery-cheeries' by kissing everyone else at random. And the final line of this book, presented as if the moral?
To turn them around how, exactly? From being depressed into being an assaulter? Not a great way to turn things around, I'd say!
And even if it means a familial or friendly 'kiss' that's still a gross message. You don't tell someone who's sad that they're an annoying burden and demand they be happy! No person, child or otherwise, should have to listen to that. You don't randomly kiss strangers without consent - and the book makes it clear the female kissing fish is one nobody had seen before, so she wasn't friend or family. Maybe let's don't teach kids that the cure to sadness is to go around kissing random folk without even asking...? Just a thought.
This book is every bit as terrible as the other low reviews made it out to be. I read it thinking that, surely, the other people who disliked this book were overreacting. But nope. It really is that bothersome!
First up, my Amazon review. Less thorough but gets to the point immediately:
Nope. Terrible lesson for kids!
A little fish is sad. His friends bully him for it by telling him that his frown is unattractive and he's being a downer - that he should just smile and have hope instead. Then a female fish he's never met before comes along, kisses him, and swims away. Suddenly, he's happy and goes around kissing everyone he sees. The final line, presented as if the moral, is: "Sometimes a kiss is all it takes to turn things around."
Here's a better idea: don't teach kids to torment people with depression or general sadness and not to accept being treated that way. And definitely don't condone kissing or accepting kisses from total strangers without consent!
------------
And now, the review I wrote for goodreads which includes quotes and more details:
Wow, so... I don't even know how to articulate how much I hate the message of this book. I wouldn't let it near any child I cared about, unless they were too young to understand the words. And even then, I'd be hesitant because it portrays a fish being very sad and his so-called friends making him feel worse about it then a whole bunch of random kissing.
No, you did not read that wrong.
This book is about the "pout-pout" fish who is both sad (enough it reads as depression to me, as someone who deals with that issue myself) and just generally a fish with downturned lips. It's difficult to tell which is intended more prominently, because he mentions that it's just his face and how he is - which could be literal or metaphorical. Either way, the fact he's sad and/or pouting is referred to as spreading a dreary mood... because who cares about the poor fish who's pouting, I guess?
I'm a pout-pout fish
with a pout-pout face,
so I spread the dreary-wearies
all over the place.
Now, before you think I'm reading too much into this, let me assure you that not only is the glumness of his 'pouting' constantly referred to as a downer but I'm not just inferring his friends guilting and insulting him for it.
Anyone who's had the misfortune of dealing with depression knows how this goes. Selfish and/or ignorant jerks who claim to care about you tell you to just smile, as if the expression on your face will magically fix the sadness in your mind. They complain that you're 'sulking' and point out how unappealing your sadness is as if they can shame you into faking a smile until it becomes real.
And what does this poor, little fish's friends do? Exactly that! Something we should be teaching children to avoid doing is presented as if totally normal.
"Hey, Mr. Fish,
you kaleidoscope of mope,
how about a smile?
A little joy? A little hope?"
"Hey, Mr. Fish,
let me tell it to you straight,
your hulky-bulky sulking
is an unattractive trait!"
Now, I will give credit that this doesn't make him any happier. But this isn't a story about having reasonable compassion or helping friends who are struggling or not saying hurtful things to people who are sad. No, see, it's about how apparently all this little 'pout-pout fish' needs is to be kissed and discover he was actually a 'kiss-kiss fish' all along, unaware he just needed to share joy by kissing everyone instead of pouting all day.
Promise I'm not making that up!
After all his friends are done being mean to the pouting fish, a female fish comes along, doesn't say anything to him, and kisses him without asking before swimming away. All the sudden, he's no longer sad. See, now he decides to spread 'the cheery-cheeries' by kissing everyone else at random. And the final line of this book, presented as if the moral?
Sometimes a kiss is all it takes to turn things around.
To turn them around how, exactly? From being depressed into being an assaulter? Not a great way to turn things around, I'd say!
And even if it means a familial or friendly 'kiss' that's still a gross message. You don't tell someone who's sad that they're an annoying burden and demand they be happy! No person, child or otherwise, should have to listen to that. You don't randomly kiss strangers without consent - and the book makes it clear the female kissing fish is one nobody had seen before, so she wasn't friend or family. Maybe let's don't teach kids that the cure to sadness is to go around kissing random folk without even asking...? Just a thought.
This book is every bit as terrible as the other low reviews made it out to be. I read it thinking that, surely, the other people who disliked this book were overreacting. But nope. It really is that bothersome!
November 3, 2025
Excellent character development. What an amazing twist at the end.
December 31, 2016
It's a hard thing, buying board books (cardboard pages less likely to be ruined by tiny hands that might tear paper pages) online. I've finally got a grandchild, and obviously the thing a good Grammy buys at Christmas, is books. But I've been away from tiny people for over 15 years, and so once I bought him the good ones not already in my awesome kiddy collection, I was stumped. I saw that this one was popular, but we're only allowed to look at one or two pages on Amazon, and that makes it hard to get a sense of cadence and vocabulary, as well as whether this is just a cute story, or one of those overly preachy types that can kill an early love of books with a huge, heavy handed lesson that comes across more like a hammer than like warm arms and a soft lap.
Thank goodness for other reviewers. I bought the book, and it is now a favorite for 9 month old Sammy. It's equally useful for any gender, with no assumptions made.
In the end, we learn that the pout pout fish has incorrectly identified itself and when another fish slides up and gives that fish a kiss, it exclaims that it realizes "...I was wrong! I'm a kiss-kiss fish with a kiss-kiss face..."
My spouse and I gifted our new grandson with five board books, but this one is the runaway fave, and my daughter-in-law's family sat under their own tree Christmas Day, flipped open their phones, and ordered the other toddler in their family a copy also, once Sammy and his parents had shared this magical little book.
One final bonus: it has absolutely nothing to do with bedtime. Some of us like to read at other times, and until I retired, I hadn't realized how skewed babies' books are toward bedtime. So if the baby you're buying for has a stay-home parent or grandparent, or if you're buying books for a daycare, this one will suit you down to the ground. Or the sea.
Thank goodness for other reviewers. I bought the book, and it is now a favorite for 9 month old Sammy. It's equally useful for any gender, with no assumptions made.
In the end, we learn that the pout pout fish has incorrectly identified itself and when another fish slides up and gives that fish a kiss, it exclaims that it realizes "...I was wrong! I'm a kiss-kiss fish with a kiss-kiss face..."
My spouse and I gifted our new grandson with five board books, but this one is the runaway fave, and my daughter-in-law's family sat under their own tree Christmas Day, flipped open their phones, and ordered the other toddler in their family a copy also, once Sammy and his parents had shared this magical little book.
One final bonus: it has absolutely nothing to do with bedtime. Some of us like to read at other times, and until I retired, I hadn't realized how skewed babies' books are toward bedtime. So if the baby you're buying for has a stay-home parent or grandparent, or if you're buying books for a daycare, this one will suit you down to the ground. Or the sea.
October 27, 2025
Pains me to say because I love the guy, but I can’t get it out of my head that he’s just an incel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
This is a fantastic book; a song that is catchy, with its repetitive lyrics and hilarious onomatopoeia as well as illustrations that are colorful and silly, yet still expressive. And we absolutely loved the ending. We really enjoyed reading this book - a perfect book for bedtime!
December 2015 update: I borrowed this book again from the library to share with our two-year-old niece during her visit with my brother-in-law just before Christmas. It has the same bouncy rhythm as Bear Snores On, and is just as fun to read aloud.
December 2015 update: I borrowed this book again from the library to share with our two-year-old niece during her visit with my brother-in-law just before Christmas. It has the same bouncy rhythm as Bear Snores On, and is just as fun to read aloud.
February 16, 2016
A cute little story about a fish with an ever-present pout and how everyone in his life tries to convince him to be happy. Not the biggest hit with my students, but a few were into it.
May 28, 2017
Would be 5 stars but that squid is super rude.
November 22, 2017
The rhymes here are simply dazzling. Mom said the ending seems to suggest the titular fish has some boundary issues. Mom is frequently a Grade A killjoy.
October 2, 2019
Another delightful read aloud. Invoking my 2017 rule for another grandchild: if you read the same book to a small child more than 20 times in one day, it counts toward your GoodReads challenge. ;)
March 25, 2024
My daughter loves this book! That is an automatic 5 stars from me!
August 21, 2025
Gonna rename it to kiss kiss fish!
Mommy read this as I laid on the couch. Then I started crying so daddy held me to finish the book. I really liked looking at all the pictures!
Mommy read this as I laid on the couch. Then I started crying so daddy held me to finish the book. I really liked looking at all the pictures!
November 26, 2018
Although all of his maritime friends attempt to convince the eponymous Pout-Pout Fish to cheer up, the sour-puss swimmer insists that he is what he is, and that he can't help being down in the dumps. It is only when another fish, swimming along in a "silent silver shimmer," happens by and kisses him, that our piscine hero undergoes a transformation...
Pairing an engaging tale told in rhyme with colorful, appealing artwork, The Pout-Pout Fish is a picture-book that would make an excellent read-aloud selection, especially with its 'blubby' refrain. I really liked illustrator Dan Hanna's color palette here - lots of beautiful shades on view, so this story definitely doesn't take place in the north Atlantic! - and I thought the text read very well. Recommended to anyone looking for fun picture-books in rhyme, or for children's stories about emotional states and our attitude toward the world around us.
Pairing an engaging tale told in rhyme with colorful, appealing artwork, The Pout-Pout Fish is a picture-book that would make an excellent read-aloud selection, especially with its 'blubby' refrain. I really liked illustrator Dan Hanna's color palette here - lots of beautiful shades on view, so this story definitely doesn't take place in the north Atlantic! - and I thought the text read very well. Recommended to anyone looking for fun picture-books in rhyme, or for children's stories about emotional states and our attitude toward the world around us.
March 24, 2011
Perfect to teach children (and perhaps a few adults!) that they can CHOOSE to be happy. Perfect for reading aloud in a library storytime - with some repeated parts allowing for audience participation and also some wonderful vocabulary and fun rhyming words. The illustrations are also VERY fun, with a wide cast of underwater sea creatures. My favorite illustration shows the pout-pout fish just after being kissed looking directly out of the center of a two-page spread - and he's actually still upside-down from the page before if you look at the background and the other creatures behind him. Just fun all around!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,290 reviews