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The Octonauts
The Octonauts & the Frown Fish
The books that launched the hit cartoon!
“As promised, here’s a post about kids’ books, and specifically Meomi’s fabulous The Octonauts series...The books in question are The Only Lonely Monster, The Sea of Shade, and the new release, The Frown Fish. All hold the attention of the grownups, the teenager, and the school-age tike in the house. Seriously, everyone should run out and get these.” - BoingBoing
"Too many children's books talk down to kids, thinking that talking on their level equates to dropping IQ points. It’s refreshing to read The Octonauts and the Frown Fish, a smart and entertaining kids book…it’s fun and teaches a lesson to look past the exterior and appreciate what’s inside. Comic book readers looking to get their kids into graphic storytelling early will want to seek out this one. Nice bed time story reading, this one is." - Ain’t It Cool News
This is the original book series that launched the animated TV show, which is now popular worldwide and broadcast on the Disney Channel in the USA. Discover the creative and fun stories where it all began!
In this third Octonauts storybook, the crew meets a fish with a giant frown on his face. He looks so glum that he's causing everyone around him to feel down also. Our heroes need to find a way to cheer him up! The Octonauts try music-making, field trips, miniature golf, and even a baking marathon, but can they make their new friend smile?
“Blame it on the Olympics. With Beijing behind us, thoughts turn to Vancouver, then Meomi, the team that designed the 2010 mascots. Next thing you know, we remember there is a new Octonauts book coming out in October. Why write about clown fish when there’s a frown fish that needs cheering up? In The Octonauts and the Frown Fish by Meomi, the underwater crew use activities such as a baking marathon to entice their new friend to smile. Another affordable piece for the adult collector of cute.”—Art MoCo
“This is the third edition in the Octonauts series and yet again the colors are right on point. The cast of colorful characters are on another deep blue adventure, this time to help out the frown fish have a little fun. Each page is a treat for any color lover as the book is full of color cuteness of soft yet vibrant palettes, and the wonderful compositions and styling we've come to expect from the Meomi team's illustrations.” - Colour Lovers
“The Octonauts are a crew of eight adorable undersea explorers. I fell in love with all of them, and I don’t think I could pick a favorite animal. In The Octonauts and the Frown Fish, the crew finds a fish that frowns all the time. They don’t know why the fish frowns because they don’t speak 'Frownese.' The Octonauts are determined to cheer the fish up. This book elicited the ‘aww, that’s cute’ reaction many times. The artwork is so adorable, and the story is simple but sweet. I hope the Frown Fish becomes a recurring character. I don’t know if I’d describe this as a children’s book because adults can enjoy it as well. The artwork alone is worth the price of the book. I would recommend it for anyone with kids or anyone who is a kid at heart.” - Supah Cute
“As promised, here’s a post about kids’ books, and specifically Meomi’s fabulous The Octonauts series...The books in question are The Only Lonely Monster, The Sea of Shade, and the new release, The Frown Fish. All hold the attention of the grownups, the teenager, and the school-age tike in the house. Seriously, everyone should run out and get these.” - BoingBoing
"Too many children's books talk down to kids, thinking that talking on their level equates to dropping IQ points. It’s refreshing to read The Octonauts and the Frown Fish, a smart and entertaining kids book…it’s fun and teaches a lesson to look past the exterior and appreciate what’s inside. Comic book readers looking to get their kids into graphic storytelling early will want to seek out this one. Nice bed time story reading, this one is." - Ain’t It Cool News
This is the original book series that launched the animated TV show, which is now popular worldwide and broadcast on the Disney Channel in the USA. Discover the creative and fun stories where it all began!
In this third Octonauts storybook, the crew meets a fish with a giant frown on his face. He looks so glum that he's causing everyone around him to feel down also. Our heroes need to find a way to cheer him up! The Octonauts try music-making, field trips, miniature golf, and even a baking marathon, but can they make their new friend smile?
“Blame it on the Olympics. With Beijing behind us, thoughts turn to Vancouver, then Meomi, the team that designed the 2010 mascots. Next thing you know, we remember there is a new Octonauts book coming out in October. Why write about clown fish when there’s a frown fish that needs cheering up? In The Octonauts and the Frown Fish by Meomi, the underwater crew use activities such as a baking marathon to entice their new friend to smile. Another affordable piece for the adult collector of cute.”—Art MoCo
“This is the third edition in the Octonauts series and yet again the colors are right on point. The cast of colorful characters are on another deep blue adventure, this time to help out the frown fish have a little fun. Each page is a treat for any color lover as the book is full of color cuteness of soft yet vibrant palettes, and the wonderful compositions and styling we've come to expect from the Meomi team's illustrations.” - Colour Lovers
“The Octonauts are a crew of eight adorable undersea explorers. I fell in love with all of them, and I don’t think I could pick a favorite animal. In The Octonauts and the Frown Fish, the crew finds a fish that frowns all the time. They don’t know why the fish frowns because they don’t speak 'Frownese.' The Octonauts are determined to cheer the fish up. This book elicited the ‘aww, that’s cute’ reaction many times. The artwork is so adorable, and the story is simple but sweet. I hope the Frown Fish becomes a recurring character. I don’t know if I’d describe this as a children’s book because adults can enjoy it as well. The artwork alone is worth the price of the book. I would recommend it for anyone with kids or anyone who is a kid at heart.” - Supah Cute
36 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
About the author
Meomi
64 books29 followersMEOMI is Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy. Vicki and Michael both write and illustrate the Octonauts books - although people tend to assume Vicki is the writer and Michael is the illustrator - this might be because of Michael's wavey hair.
Meomi enjoys spending their time making up silly stories, drinking tea, and drawing strange characters.
Meomi's artwork has been featured in numerous illustration and design books, while their art has appeared on a wide variety of merchandise worldwide. They are the designers of the beloved Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic mascots (Quatchi, Miga, Sumi and Mukmuk), and have created art for such clients as Google, Yo GabbaGabba, Chickadee Magazine, Electronic Arts, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and CBC4Kids.
See more of their work at www.meomi.com
Meomi enjoys spending their time making up silly stories, drinking tea, and drawing strange characters.
Meomi's artwork has been featured in numerous illustration and design books, while their art has appeared on a wide variety of merchandise worldwide. They are the designers of the beloved Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic mascots (Quatchi, Miga, Sumi and Mukmuk), and have created art for such clients as Google, Yo GabbaGabba, Chickadee Magazine, Electronic Arts, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and CBC4Kids.
See more of their work at www.meomi.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 9, 2017
It was so interesting to me to realize that there were 4 Octonauts books before there was a show. You can really see why someone would look at this picture book and realize that it needed to be made into a kid's TV show. It's cute and engaging and somewhat educational, much like the show by the same name.
While many books come out for popular kid's shows like Paw Patrol and the Shimmer Shines and so on which aren't very good, these were actually decent books. Obviously though, they inspired the TV show rather than the other way around.
While many books come out for popular kid's shows like Paw Patrol and the Shimmer Shines and so on which aren't very good, these were actually decent books. Obviously though, they inspired the TV show rather than the other way around.
October 29, 2011
My little sister decided to read this to me as a "bedtime" story last night. It was so cute, and yet totally charming at the same time! I loved how the author added in so many things that just resonate with us personally (e.g. listing socks and cookies together!)
This series is definitely a really really great one if you want something totally unnormal to read to your child! (For heaven's sake, it starts on a rainy, gloomy day on the bottom of the ocean!)
But it is very much worth it. I'll have her read the other three books in the series to me soon, just because it's so adorable!
This series is definitely a really really great one if you want something totally unnormal to read to your child! (For heaven's sake, it starts on a rainy, gloomy day on the bottom of the ocean!)
But it is very much worth it. I'll have her read the other three books in the series to me soon, just because it's so adorable!
August 23, 2020
The thing that I like about the Octonauts cartoon is that it teaches about real sea life. The opening of this book sets a different tone: "It was a quiet and rainy afternoon at the bottom of the ocean when ..." This is a lot more whimsical than I was expecting.
The Octonauts discover a fish with a frown. It's bumming everybody out. So they commit the resources of their undersea exploratory expedition to making the fish smile. Time and money well spent.
The Octonauts discover a fish with a frown. It's bumming everybody out. So they commit the resources of their undersea exploratory expedition to making the fish smile. Time and money well spent.
August 10, 2020
Oktonautit -sarja on meidän perheessä tuttu lähinnä tv:n Pikku Kakkosesta. Molemmat lapsista on katsonut sarjaa innolla, joten tietynlaiset rallatukset ja rankutukset sarjasta ovat syöpyneet alitajuntaani. Luin kuulemma sarjan äänitehosteilla kirjaa.
Hauska tarina, suloinen kuvitus!
Hauska tarina, suloinen kuvitus!
December 28, 2020
My son loves the Octonauts and finding the books has been great. They've been wonderful for sitting with him and reading to him while we potty train. He's also started to pick up words from the multiple readings we've already had and we've only had the books about 4 days.
December 31, 2021
A lovely Octonauts book--I always love all the nerdy references in these books (the Doctor one was hilarious). A fun adventure, and my son and I had fun turning the pages upside down repeatedly.
October 8, 2023
We are delighted you've journeyed through "The Octonauts & the Frown Fish" by Meomi. The moral of this adventurous tale is about understanding others' emotions and the power of friendship to bring happiness.
Sometimes, someone needs a little kindness and a friend to share their feelings to turn a frown upside down.
Keep reading, and remember to spread smiles wherever you go!
Love,
Father & Mother
Sometimes, someone needs a little kindness and a friend to share their feelings to turn a frown upside down.
Keep reading, and remember to spread smiles wherever you go!
Love,
Father & Mother
February 25, 2026
We are so proud of you for reading this wonderful book! You learned something very special - when someone looks sad or grumpy, they might just need a friend and some kindness to feel better. Just like the Octonauts helped the frown fish smile again, you can help your friends feel happy too by being kind and caring. You are becoming such a great reader, and we love watching you learn and grow every day!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2017
Ok, cute. But what's educational about it? It makes no more sense than Sponge-Bob Squarepants. I'll try the first in the series if I can, but probably that's it. Or maybe I should try a DVD before passing judgement. (Right, like that's going to happen.)
Two stars, bonus star for mini-golf, my favorite sport.
Two stars, bonus star for mini-golf, my favorite sport.
January 18, 2020
We love the Octonauts in our house! This book is completely charming and has a lot of little details to explore and enjoy for kids and grownups too. It also inspired us to create our own (pop-up) story with Kwazii. So this was a big hit for us.
January 14, 2026
We got the Octonaut book set a year ago and they don’t come out too often. They are visually very engaging, but the written stories don’t follow the educational Star Trek-style formula that the show does. In this one the Octonauts try to cheer up a glum friend.
September 27, 2017
We love Octonauts - my kid is obsessed with them. We started with the show, so the books are a little different. They're so adorable though, I still love the characters.
August 26, 2019
Oktonautit ja mököttäjäkala
April 27, 2020
I like it because it's not a frown fish, it's and upside down catfish
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2022
Delightful!
March 3, 2023
Do you like unusual fish? Then this book is for you.
June 22, 2023
This is a fun read, with beautiful pictures and a fun reveal at the end. M has asked to read this one many times since we borrowed it from the library.
Read
March 11, 2017I love the show, it is the most tolerable of all the toddler tv. The books are slightly different, without "creature report," but I notice that Tweak, Dashi, Shellington, and Inky have more active roles in the books, a fact I particularly appreciate when my daughter insists she can only be Dashi or Tweak because she is a girl.
July 14, 2018
As an original, before the tv show, I enjoyed the illustrations much more - especially all the fun added details and puns! You really have to take time to study the pictures to find all the hidden gems. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it cracked my husband up! And of course we had to go back and retread the entire thing with a new perspective :-)
December 7, 2017
Näistä kirjoista animaatioihin hypännyt Oktonauttisarja on tuttu myös Pikku kakkosesta ja siksi 2-vuotias luki innokkaasti.
September 9, 2009
If you are a fan of Hello Kitty/Sanrio type art and cute little Japanese-style animated characters, this book should be right up your alley.
The Octonauts are eight little quirky characters that work together in the Octopod - their underwater vessel. For example, there is Sauci Dog, Nurse Peso Penguin, and Tweak Bunny just to name a few. Each character is cute and cuddly and looks like there should be a line of stuffed animals with their names on them. :) In this story, The Octonauts & the Frown Fish, these undersea travellers come across a new-to-them fish that is frowning. In their quest to help this fish, and wipe that frown off his face, they try all sorts of activities and work as a team to try and cheer him up!
My girls enjoyed this book and wanted more of these cute animal adventurers. There are three books in the series - this is the third - so I'll be on the lookout for them. If you have a little one that likes to color, I also recommend heading over to their website where you can print off color pages of different scenes from the book.
The Octonauts are eight little quirky characters that work together in the Octopod - their underwater vessel. For example, there is Sauci Dog, Nurse Peso Penguin, and Tweak Bunny just to name a few. Each character is cute and cuddly and looks like there should be a line of stuffed animals with their names on them. :) In this story, The Octonauts & the Frown Fish, these undersea travellers come across a new-to-them fish that is frowning. In their quest to help this fish, and wipe that frown off his face, they try all sorts of activities and work as a team to try and cheer him up!
My girls enjoyed this book and wanted more of these cute animal adventurers. There are three books in the series - this is the third - so I'll be on the lookout for them. If you have a little one that likes to color, I also recommend heading over to their website where you can print off color pages of different scenes from the book.
December 26, 2010
The Octonauts and the Frown Fish is the third in the series by Meomi. In this one, the Octonauts come across a fish with a giant frown. They want to help to cheer the fish up.
They take the fish around to the best under the sea entertainment spots. Still the fish frowns. If anything, the fish's frown gets bigger! They even try building an exosuit for the fish so he can join them out of the water.
The Octonauts books are wonderful first and foremost for their adorable but highly detailed illustrations. Next the stories themselves are delightful. Best of all, the guest star for the book (in this case, the Frown Fish) is always a real thing. The Frown Fish is a type of catfish (synodontis Nigriventris).
After my son reads an Octonaut book, he and I look up the featured animal together. I've included the link for the page where we read up about the Frown Fish. I'm not going to tell you what makes him so special to avoid spoiling the story.
We checked the book out from the library.
They take the fish around to the best under the sea entertainment spots. Still the fish frowns. If anything, the fish's frown gets bigger! They even try building an exosuit for the fish so he can join them out of the water.
The Octonauts books are wonderful first and foremost for their adorable but highly detailed illustrations. Next the stories themselves are delightful. Best of all, the guest star for the book (in this case, the Frown Fish) is always a real thing. The Frown Fish is a type of catfish (synodontis Nigriventris).
After my son reads an Octonaut book, he and I look up the featured animal together. I've included the link for the page where we read up about the Frown Fish. I'm not going to tell you what makes him so special to avoid spoiling the story.
We checked the book out from the library.
September 16, 2014
I love the Octonauts, but this book dragged a little bit. The Octonauts are having a gloomy rainy day at the bottom of the ocean when they happen upon a new species of frowning fish. They try everything that makes them happy, including baking, playing on the playground, reading, singing/making music, all in an attempt to make him smile. My favorite parts was probably a couple of the Octonauts trying to deciper "Frownese" and reading in Professor Inkling's library. The ending was surprising. Recommended for ages 5-8, 3 stars.
July 19, 2016
Reading these kinds of show-inspired books is a good alternative to letting kids sit in front of the ipad/tv. Usually the transformers or superhero books are kind of bland bc they know kids will want to get their hands on them for the graphics, but all the hardcover meomi and even the paperback anthologies are fantastic story-wise. The Frown Fish reminded me of the Pout Pout Fish, but packaged in that Japanese cuteness.
September 3, 2012
great illustration and pretty much always some part of the book where you have to turn it, which is fun. the jokes can be a little forced/reaching for the adults too much. too long for storytimes. a good series, overall.
September 4, 2012
Fun, clever, interesting. I am tickled how each of these books comes up with some reason why you have to turn the book left, right, and/or upside-down at various points in the story. So, how do you make a Frown Fish smile? Read the book to find out, of course!
September 25, 2012
The best Octonaunt book out there! We love the frown fish. These are great learning and discovery books about sea creatures. I enjoy the scientific part and the cute made up parts. This one makes is giggle!
January 17, 2013
One of my little guy's very favorite books. He knows it by heart and reads it to me. The pictures are amazing and so full of detail that each time you read it, you can find something new. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
Read
January 14, 2015The Octonauts thought they found a frowny fish, so they all come up with unique ideas to cheer it up. Nothing works until the fish does a flip off the slide and the team realizes that it's not a frowny fish at all! It's an upside down fish who had been happy the whole day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2016
Honestly, I'm not a fan of these books, largely because I have a hard time keeping all the characters untangled in my head. However, my eight year old daughter loves figuring out how the frown fish gets its smile back. It's a cute story and I do enjoy the illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews