The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

The Pout-Pout Fish

by Deborah Diesen, Dan Hanna (Illustrations)

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

"A gift should be big ,
And a gift should be bright .
And a gift should be perfect -
Guaranteed to bring delight.
And a gift should have meaning
Plus a bit of bling- zing ,
So I'll shop till I drop
For each just-right thing!"

Will Mr. Fish find perfect gifts for everyone on his list? Will he finish his shopping in time?

Swim along with The Pout-Pout Fish on his holiday shopping quest. He might just discover that the best gifts of all come straight from the heart.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Animals, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Deborah 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...

Reviews

[R.J. Rodda]

A timely reminder that in the rush to find the perfect present for Christmas, sometimes hand-making something personal is best.

[Abigail]

The pout-pout fish returns in this fourth picture-book devoted to his adventures, this time confronting the sometimes stressful experience of Christmas shopping. Determined to get his friends gifts that are just right, Mr. Fish ends up rejecting everything he sees, winding up with nothing as all the shops close. Has he ruined Christmas? Or will the wise Miss Shimmer show him what holiday gift-giving is all about...?

Like its predecessors, The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish features a fun read-aloud text in rhyme - "In a festive ocean corner, / Fish were decking out the reef, / Hanging tinsel, bows, and lights, / In a holiday motif" - as well as colorful, engaging illustrations. I particularly enjoyed all of the little visual details in the shopping scenes, as Mr. Fish browses through everything from scale polish to Kraken's Crackers. Recommended to all Pout-Pout Fish fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books that specifically address the gift-giving process at Christmas.

[Lacy | literary_lacy]

This was a cute holiday Pout-Pout Fish book. It is perfect for Christmas.

Pout-Pout fish is searching for the best presents for his friends. He looks in every store, and cannot find anything. Then, a very wise fish tells him that he can make the perfect gifts, which Pout-Pout fish does. The gifts he makes end up being better that any he could buy.

This book teaches children that there isn’t any one perfect gift, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to give someone something truly meaningful.

My kids enjoyed this book just as well as the first one, and it will be great to make a tradition of reading it around the holidays.

[Rachel]

This is cute! I really loved all the “hidden” little things, like at the fish store Captain Ahab’s Peg Leg was on display. Also it’s just punny how they structured this book- great for older people reading to a younger generation. (Manta Claus for example🙈).

My only complaint really was, I would have loved to have seen a little foil art? Like in Rainbow Fish? (I don’t know the correct term for it). But as much as our main character talked about gifts with “bling-zing” I just think that could have really sold it for me.

Still great though!

[AMY]

This is a wonderful rhyming book that shows a really great way to give gifts to friends. The pictures are full of humor and lovely, active sea creatures. It is a wonderful lesson for kids. Highly recommended for Christmas or anytime Grades K-5.

[Olivia]

This is such a great book! The pout pout fish is so relatable for adults, and his stories are so inspiring for kids! A must read for anyone.

[Lauren]

One of my son’s Christmas presents was this book. I like the original Pout Pout Fish story and although this one has a nice message about gift giving and thoughtfulness, it’s just kind of long and clunky and he never really pouts in it. Overall, giving it 3/5 stars ⭐️

[Tym]

A good message with a fun take on Christmas, under the sea, the repetitions annoyed me a bit however they will likely be enjoyed by a little one

[Pamela Hatch]

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish / written by Deborah Diesen; illustrated by Dan Hanna -- New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, c2015. (32 pages)

SUMMARY: Mr. Fish is having a hard time finding the right presents for his friends, until he learns that the best gifts come from the heart. (verso)

REVIEW: There were two things that I liked about this book: 1) the idea of making homemade gifts for his friends which seemed to fit their personalities and were enjoyed by everyone; and 2) some of the humor of the items in the stores which most children may not understand. -- One phrase keeps being repeated throughout the book describing the best gift -- which turns out to wrong.

FORMAT: The one I read was in board book format which I don't think is a good title for little ones -- too long for little listeners and beginning readers.

[Dolly]

I loved the original tale, The Pout-Pout Fish, and I wasn't sure if this would simply be a typical holiday book, cashing in on the success of the first book.

I was actually quite pleased with the story, although I still prefer the original.

[Jennifer Didik]

So the thing to remember is, I don't know the first thing about children's books. That being said, the rhyming in here is cheesy, and perhaps the illustrations really appeal to young eyeballs but I am not impressed.

[Janet]

Super cute book. I read it to some kids in my sons class today & nearly choked up! Very nice storyline. Fun rhyming. Great illustrations.

[Cosette]

Alas, sequel did not live up to original's hype - maybe my expectation was set too high.

[raccoon reader]

well I would have given this one three stars but given how much my son LOVED this book I am giving it 4. He'd easily give it five. Don't ask me what about it caught his attention. He's four. He probably doesn't even know but we've read this thing every night for months. Finally time to go back to the library and he was still so sad. Might have to buy it :) It talks about giving gifts from the heart, not from the pocket book.

[Ashley]

Another cute addition to the Pout-Pout series, this book follows Mr. Fish and his mission to find the perfect Christmas gift for each of his friends. After each failed attempt (and being a procrastinator by waiting until the last minute to shop!), Mr. Fish discovers not all gifts are monetary and he can create special gifts from the heart. Sweet little picture book to show some of the best gifts are those that are hand made <3

[Cheryl]

So, we've got the mantra about boughten gifts memorized, and then, at the last moment, we make the perfect gifts at home, from scratch, because we've got mad crafting skills and a supply closet Martha Stewart would admire... and we're expected to put the chant out of our head. I couldn't even tell what all the home-made gifts were, but apparently they were pretty special in those last few pages.

[Kathryn]

How can you not love the pout-pout fish? He is the ultimate personification of every child born with an old soul. Remembering that the best gifts are those that come from the heart is something every child needs to learn. The consumerism of the Christmas season adds so much stress. Children are naturally observant and creative. This book encourages them to be just that.

[Kylee Windus]

All Christmas picture/childrens books read in any years are because my family has a collection of children’s books and I for some reason decide to read them most years, prob cause we love Christmas. Anyways we don’t judge reading any Christmas children’s books. (Same applies to all Christmas children’s books)

[Ruth Ellen]

One of my kids at school had this book. As I read they kept saying read it Ms. Ruth, I told them I was. One said in your head, I said, yes. Kinder kids are so funny. No you aren't. This is a cute book. Pout pout fish is unhappy he has no friends to celebrate Christmas. Read and see what happens.

[Sharla Bazen]

Genre: Fiction, Children's Picture Book

Unique Feature: This sing-song book is a great addition to the other "The Pout Pout Fish" and is an excellent seasonal book (Christmas time!)..our second grade scholars LOVED it!

Grades suggested: K-3

[SB]

I love these books. I love rhyming books for kids, but I love this series because the author uses '50 cent' words to rhyme with...I love stretching the minds of kids. I love that she uses words like "motif." Seriously -- makes my day! :D

[Gabrielle Stoller]

I love Pout Pout. In fact, the main book is awesome for teaching repetitive phrases AND about emotions. This Christmas tale has some of those similarities but it also falls slightly more flat. The repetition isn't nearly as fun. =/

[James]

A good book with a good lesson about the nature of gifting and gifts. My nieces and nephews enjoyed this and thought the illustrations were pretty fantastic. Not a lot of follow-up requests to reread it, but I'm not sure it's really that kind of book.

[Lynn Davidson]

Pout-Pout fish was not happy while his friends were decorating for Christmas. Even after trying to shop, he had no gifts for his friends and he was worried. He had to figure out something. Beautiful illustrations; cute rhyming story.

[Kylie]

This is a cute Christmas story about how Christmas isn't about big, glamorous gifts, but is really about the meaning. We tried reading it for Christmas Eve a couple of times and it really didn't fit with our Christ centered stories, but it's still a good one!

[K Ong]

the pout-pout fish has been a favorite of my daughter because of the catchy lines and she can actually relate to mr. fish.

this teaches her that gifts shouldn't be always the most expensive or the most in.
it's the thought and effort that counts the most.

[Anthony]

Mr Fish is determined to find the perfect gift for everyone on his list. As Mr. Fish swims about shopping he just can't seem to find the perfect gift. It's not until he gets help and advice from Miss Shimmer that Mr. Fish realizes what a perfect gift actually is.

[Cassandra]

nowhere near as good as the original

[Dana]

The Pout-Pout Fish learns the meaning of gift giving with the help of his friends which brings him merriment for Christmas.

[Jaime]

I love the Pout Pout Fish and all the rhyming. Great book about Christmas gift giving and what it’s all about.