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Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish
Being kind is a big job, but nothing's too big for a sea monster. Not even taking on the new fish in school, who's great...except when he's pushing people around. This funny, charming twist on dealing with a bully will reassure and delight the smallest children and the biggest sea monsters alike.
Paperback
First published July 9, 2013
About the author
Kate Messner
159 books1,764 followersKATE MESSNER is the New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books for young readers. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow,The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story, and Axolotl-Ella; novels like All the Answers, The Trouble with Heroes, and Keep the Ghost Light On; graphic novels like Camp Monster; and the Ranger in Time and Wildlife Rescue chapter books. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and leads the multi-author team behind The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class series.
Kate's titles have been honored with the American Booksellers Association Indies Choice Award, the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, the NAIBA Book of the Year Award, SCBWI's Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards and many state book awards. She's a frequent speaker at conferences, schools, and libraries around the world.
When she's not traveling, Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and spends her free time hiking, kayaking, and listening to way too many Broadway cast recordings.
Kate's titles have been honored with the American Booksellers Association Indies Choice Award, the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, the NAIBA Book of the Year Award, SCBWI's Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards and many state book awards. She's a frequent speaker at conferences, schools, and libraries around the world.
When she's not traveling, Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and spends her free time hiking, kayaking, and listening to way too many Broadway cast recordings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 3, 2013
I love this little Sea Monster.
June 6, 2013
Messner's Sea Monster first story was great and this follow up is just as adorable. Can't wait to share it with kids in the fall.
July 2, 2013
A wonderful story about friendship and acceptance. Sea Monster has such a good heart.
November 10, 2019
Feel-good story about new fish in sea monster's class who acts cool and starts a "cool kids" club, which prompts sea monster to start a club of "friend fish'. Eventually new fish wants to join the sea monster's club. Story with an obvious lesson, probably for preschool and up. Does have a song at the end.
June 7, 2021
This is a super cute and fun story that I think any elementary classroom would have a good time reading. It's a classic story of two friends who have to grow as individuals. There's a great statement on bullying and the effect it has on your friends. There's definitely a lot of talking points that can come off of the story would recommend.
September 16, 2023
This picture book fits very well with our school rule of "taking care of each other." Sweet bonus material about taking the Friend Fish Pledge on the Reading Rumpus website: https://www.readingrumpus.com/2013/08...
December 14, 2017
I like it best when everyone is friends
August 22, 2019
It’s a cute book about being kind. Maddie LOVES it, and while it’s cute, it’s not cute enough to read 8 times in a row. 😂
October 7, 2021
Clever way to introduce an important message.
August 12, 2023
It was fine.
February 21, 2024
Dint let bossy people take over having fun with your friends or doing what’s right.
February 25, 2024
3 1/2. This could prompt a discussion about how to be a good friend.
January 12, 2025
Clever way to share a message about what it means to be a friend to everyone.
August 12, 2013
Ernest’s class is getting a new fish (student). The new kid is an average sized fish with an oversized ego. He is also bossy and a bit of a bully. He is always right, things must go his way, and he is always the leader. At first, the other fish listened and were a little amazed. Soon, the new fish’s “mine was better” comments and “no, do it my way” orders nagged the other fish, yet no one said anything, not even when the new fish excluded some of the students from his new club. Ernest has a heavy conscience and it weighed on him. He decided to take action.
The illustrations are wonderful with edge-to-edge color and loads of funny details. I especially liked the library books. In his pile of ten books, the new fish carried, The World According to Carp and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Minnow. Mr. Blue, the librarian, has several interesting recommendations. They include If You Give a Trout an Algae Treatment, Gar in a Car, Where the Wild Fish Are, and, of course, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. The school fish are a wondrous group of variations kids will love. Nothing is made-up. All the fish are real. How many fish can your child identify? Turn it into an impromptu game.
I really like Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish. Visually, it looks fun and will catch eyes. Often the illustrations say more than the text, though the text tells a good story kids will find relatable. Ah, another impromptu game, which fish are you? And why? I love books that have several ways to communicate the story or the message, if there is one. Books with multiple possibilities like Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish kids read more often, but I think this must happen naturally from a good story with great illustrations.
Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish has the elements I like in a picture book. The new kid, who is bossy, a bully and a braggart has no name, meaning any child can slip his name into the story. Color runs boarder-to-boarder and the illustration details are terrific with small details having the biggest payoff. Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish is a relatable story kids and parents will enjoy. With the start of school lurking around the corner—or already started—Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish is a good back-to-school story that reinforces inclusion and a positive, helpful attitude. Preschool through second grade classrooms would do well to have Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish in their classroom libraries.
Originally Reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/08/11...
The illustrations are wonderful with edge-to-edge color and loads of funny details. I especially liked the library books. In his pile of ten books, the new fish carried, The World According to Carp and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Minnow. Mr. Blue, the librarian, has several interesting recommendations. They include If You Give a Trout an Algae Treatment, Gar in a Car, Where the Wild Fish Are, and, of course, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. The school fish are a wondrous group of variations kids will love. Nothing is made-up. All the fish are real. How many fish can your child identify? Turn it into an impromptu game.
I really like Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish. Visually, it looks fun and will catch eyes. Often the illustrations say more than the text, though the text tells a good story kids will find relatable. Ah, another impromptu game, which fish are you? And why? I love books that have several ways to communicate the story or the message, if there is one. Books with multiple possibilities like Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish kids read more often, but I think this must happen naturally from a good story with great illustrations.
Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish has the elements I like in a picture book. The new kid, who is bossy, a bully and a braggart has no name, meaning any child can slip his name into the story. Color runs boarder-to-boarder and the illustration details are terrific with small details having the biggest payoff. Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish is a relatable story kids and parents will enjoy. With the start of school lurking around the corner—or already started—Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish is a good back-to-school story that reinforces inclusion and a positive, helpful attitude. Preschool through second grade classrooms would do well to have Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish in their classroom libraries.
Originally Reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/08/11...
September 22, 2013
Description from the inside jacket)
There’s a new fish in school, and he’s great! Except…
He’s not great at being a friend… yet. Being kind is a big job, but nothing’s too big for a sea monster.
After getting over his first day of school jitters in Sea Monsters First Day (published by Chronicle Books 2011), Ernest the Sea Monster finds out there is going to be a new fish in school. His mother sea monster tells him to be a good friend to the new fish and Ernest does just that… but the new fish is kind of bossy and mean. Ernest hatches a plan for everyone to be friends!
I LOVED both of the Sea Monster books! The anti-bullying message in “Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish” is great. It is told in a way very young kids can understand. The illustrations are very cute, colorful and detailed!
I like how there is some humor in the book that older kids/adults will get, like the books in the library “If You Give A Trout An Algae Treat,” “Gar in a Car,” and my favorite “Carnivores Digest”. Plus, the Bossy Fish says that at his school they sang songs by the Talking Fish Heads (just as an FYI – I LOVE THE TALKING HEADS!!!). I also like when Ernest (the sea monster) is reading a book out loud (“One Fish, Two fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”) and his audience is 1 fish, 2 fish, a red fish and a blue fish! It just shows how every detail in the book was thought out.
The best part of the book is the message though. It is great how Earnest gets everyone to play together and be friends. All in all, this is one of the best picture books I’ve read this year and I think it would make a great back to school book for young kids.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
There’s a new fish in school, and he’s great! Except…
He’s not great at being a friend… yet. Being kind is a big job, but nothing’s too big for a sea monster.
After getting over his first day of school jitters in Sea Monsters First Day (published by Chronicle Books 2011), Ernest the Sea Monster finds out there is going to be a new fish in school. His mother sea monster tells him to be a good friend to the new fish and Ernest does just that… but the new fish is kind of bossy and mean. Ernest hatches a plan for everyone to be friends!
I LOVED both of the Sea Monster books! The anti-bullying message in “Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish” is great. It is told in a way very young kids can understand. The illustrations are very cute, colorful and detailed!
I like how there is some humor in the book that older kids/adults will get, like the books in the library “If You Give A Trout An Algae Treat,” “Gar in a Car,” and my favorite “Carnivores Digest”. Plus, the Bossy Fish says that at his school they sang songs by the Talking Fish Heads (just as an FYI – I LOVE THE TALKING HEADS!!!). I also like when Ernest (the sea monster) is reading a book out loud (“One Fish, Two fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”) and his audience is 1 fish, 2 fish, a red fish and a blue fish! It just shows how every detail in the book was thought out.
The best part of the book is the message though. It is great how Earnest gets everyone to play together and be friends. All in all, this is one of the best picture books I’ve read this year and I think it would make a great back to school book for young kids.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 19, 2013
Sea Monster remembers what it was like to be the new kid in class and he plans to be especially friendly to the new fish in his school. But the new student is loud, arrogant, and makes fun of some of the other fish. After he leaves out some of the other fish and won't let them join his Fresh Fish Club, Sea Monster has had enough. He starts his own club, the Friend Fish Club, dedicated to treating everyone kindly. The gouache and india ink illustrations have been combined in Adobe Photoshop to create a brilliantly-hued world under the sea, and the message of inclusion is an excellent one to share with young students. Sea Monster's actions serve as a good model for anyone unsure about how to cope with a bully.
September 7, 2013
This is a 3 1/2 for me. I thought the pictures were very cute, the story was great, and teaches a good lesson about how to deal with someone who is bossy. I love the little bits of humor that are subtle (like only adults will get them...) Like a book on the shelf in the library is called "Portrait of the artist as a young minnow" (Portrait of the artist as a young man)and the "The Kissing Fin" (The Kissing Tree) and "If you give a trout an algae treat" (For if you give a pig a cookie). All in all a fun book! But who do fish write with pencils if they have fins, I think fingers are important for writing, crabs use their claws...so I guess it can work...
July 20, 2013
Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish by Kate Messner, illustrated by Andy Rash – First off, I’m quite fond of Andy Rash’s creation, Are you a horse? – one of my favorite read alouds of all time. I’ve never failed to get every listener to laugh as I read it aloud. Hilarious. So, when Kate Messner partnered with Andy Rash, I was so excited. I love this book. Sure, it has an issue- how to deal with bossiness, be your own… fish, speak up for others, and still be special. Kate created a beautiful book that really celebrates individuality, caring, and more. Just loved how the book worked out.
November 2, 2013
"When everybody plays its way more fun." A story about a new fish who is making "waves". His bravado is a little hard for Ernest to swallow as he patiently shows the fish around. But when the new fish forms an exclusive Fresh Fish Club, Ernest knows he must not go along with him any longer. Instead, Ernest ponders "What kind of group could include everybody?" And the Friend Fish Club is born instead.
A good message for students to read individually or to have a class discussion around.
A good message for students to read individually or to have a class discussion around.
September 21, 2013
A good message to share with children, but difficult to use during story time because of all the speech bubbles. All children can relate to having someone in their lives like Bossy Fish. This book helps students know how to handle "bossies" and how to point their strong personalities in the right direction.
April 17, 2013
My favorite was the very last page.
Good for the topic of bullying and being overly bossy. Heaven knows there are kids that need it!
I liked the first one best, though.
Good for the topic of bullying and being overly bossy. Heaven knows there are kids that need it!
I liked the first one best, though.
July 20, 2013
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
July 20, 2013
A great book about kindness and including everyone for the beg. of the year.
July 27, 2013
I love this story! I especially enjoyed the mix of narration and dialogue between the characters. Don't miss all the adorable hidden treasures like the titles of the books in the library.
August 1, 2013
A great story about how bystanders are important in the bully/victim/bystander triad of bullying.Sea Monster becomes inventive when a new fish in school forms a club that doesn't include everyone.
November 1, 2013
There is a jackass new fish at school and he learns to be part of the team, instead of excluding others. Not bad, but nothing special.
November 2, 2013
Another great Christmas present that I read before wrapping.
November 14, 2013
Cute, comical illustrations, nice message.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews