The Pout-Pout Fish and the Mad, Mad Day

by Deborah Diesen

new

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Emotion, Self Help

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2021

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

[Gabrielle Stoller]

Okay. I adore Pout Pout Fish. I bought a pout pout fish for my daughter's room. I use the main book so often in early literacy settings. But this one set my teeth on edge.

Why?

I felt as if the pout pout fish lost its essence. The rhyming cadence was gone. Everything I loved about pout pout was good. Yes, teaching children social emotional skills and handling anger, teaching breathing techniques.....all belong in our literature. It is a topic that desperately needs addressed. BUT this is not the way to go about it.

[Rose Rosetree]

The point of this self-help book is clear. A sweet intention, to be sure.

But the Pout-Pout and Mad, Mad approach here is a bit too didactic for my taste.

As a point of information, I write this review as an author of self-help books. Furthermore, I pay more attention than most to whether whatever is being taught can possibly be learned from that particular book, as written. In this case, fwiw, I doubt it.

Also, from my perspective the teachy-teachy here strikes me as heavy-handed. But that's just me. For instance:

Exorting a pint-sized reader to "self-compassion"? In awkwardly written "poetry" with one pair of rhymes per stiff set of four lines?

I must not be one of the readers that Deborah Diesen had in mind.

[Molly]

Great book on anger & gives great coping strategies.

[Kristen]

5/31/2024 - Great book about how to deal with negative emotions. Will look for more in this series.

[Aneesa]

5yo could have picked out a worse book at the Book Fair.

[Cheryl]

2.5 *

liked the art. that's it.
surprised - thought i'd dig this.

[The Book Consultant]

I always enjoy a Pout Pout Fish book, and this was no exception. The illustrations in these books are colorful and, whimsical, and very expressive. We can clearly see Mr. Fish’s frustration and the concern of his friends.

And I enjoyed the story quite a bit, too - it deals with Mr. Fish having a not-so-great day and the ways his friends try to help him through it. It was very relatable, especially as a mother of 2 young children. It was great to read with my 6 year old - it started a nice conversation between us about how situations like this make us feel, and different ways to handle those big emotions.

[L.A.]

I spend a lot of time encouraging my almost 3-year-old to slow down and breathe, then use words, rather than making unintelligible sounds or running away in anger. Never read a book that put my words into words for me! 👏🏼 Might be my favorite Pout-Pout Fish book yet!

There are some reviews commenting on the rhyming: I read this one on my own first and admit I got caught on a couple rhymes, but found that I just needed to go back and pay closer attention. Some bigger words are used in this book compared to the others—not a bad thing.

[Pam]

Mr. Fish is having a difficult day. Several things go wrong and he is angry. He doesn't know how to control or stop his feelings. With help from his friends, he learns some ways to face his emotions and find ways to change them as needed.
Diesen's characters are relatable and younger readers love to see the latest adventures. The lessons are relatable and families/classes can make connections to their own feelings.

[Megsbookclub]

Today I’m sharing the newly released kid book, The Pout-Pout Fish and the Mad, Mad Day! Have you read these books? They definitely need to be in your library.

The Pout-Pout fish is having a bad day. One thing after another is making him mad. With “a little help from his friends” he learns the healing power of words!

[AMY]

This rhyming book is a great resource for handling emotions. The Pout-Pout Fish is having a rough day and lets everyone know. Different undersea animals suggest things he can do to handle his temper when it all seems to be out of control. Beautiful illustrations throughout. All kids can relate to this situation. Highly recommended for Grades K-5.

[Sarah]

Ugh, horrendous rhymes and super saccharine. I resent giving this three stars, but I do feel like it's got a pretty good handle on emotions. It covers a lot of ground: how anger starts, grows, takes a long time to leave; it doesn't make you a bad person; there as many ways to get un-angry as to get angry. Darn it, cash-grab book, don't do this to me!

[C]

We liked this one because it showed how anger can build and build over the course of a day if you don't stop and address it. It helped our kid see the snowball effect of emotions and how talking is a good thing that can help defuse.

[Lisa D]

Loved it!

[Nancy]

Good source to explain dealing with anger.

[Abby Turner]

Good advice for an angry kid but awkward rhymes

[Y.Poston]

exploration of anger and how to get it out

[Cassaundra]

Pout-Pout Fish is back with a lesson in how to handle yourself when you're mad, mad!

[Camille]

I typically like the Pout Pout series but this one was ok. I gave it 3 stars but my 6 year old gave it 5 stars so we are mtg in the middle.❤️🎊🙃😤🤐🤩

[Liz]

Great for helping kids learn to deal with their emotions. Includes tips for regaining composure.

[Emilee Ireland]

Great book to talk to kids about their feelings and how to help when they are in that headspace. It also shows what it is looks like to be a good friend to others who are having a bad day.

[Colette]

Another book about feelings but not as entertaining.

[Adriana]

Big fan of all the pout-pout fish books. I like how all of his friends help him through his anger and he ends up being able to fix his broken trinket!

[Martha]

A good lesson about frustration control. Beautiful illustrations.

[Liz]

SEL

[Pinky]

The Pout-Pout Fish's friends help him calm down after he gets upset.

[Madison]

3/1/2024 - Great book on learning about how to handle being mad 😠 Read with Daddy.

5/31/2024 - Read with Momma.