  | Don't trust fish Author: Sharpson, Neil | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water, but may have a more sinister side.
| Illustrator: | Santat, Dan |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (02/15/25)
School Library Journal (+) (05/01/25)
Booklist (+) (00/04/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/04/25)
The Hornbook (00/05/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 01/13/2025 This animal guidebook send-up starts innocently enough, with a portrait of a dairy cow alongside a simple description of mammalian characteristics: "This animal has fur. This animal is warm-blooded." Entries for a reptile and bird follow before a page turn reveals an outsize fish. "This is a FISH," bold-faced type declares. "DON’T TRUST FISH." Sharpson (When The Sparrow Falls) expands: "Fish don’t follow any rules.... They are rebels and outlaws." A hint about the screed’s possible source soon appears: "Some fish eat poor, innocent crabs who are just trying to have a nice time in the sea." Further sins are documented: "The angler fish attracts poor defenseless crabs by glowing. This is called ‘bioluminescence.’ It’s also called ‘cheating.’ " Caldecott Medalist Santat fires up the comedy with goggle-eyed vignettes of crafty fish, spying fish, disguised fish, and more. "They may already be in your home," attends an image of a goldfish surveilling a family’s children, then escaping down a tunnel to report to its boss. The claims push ever further into conspiracy territory before the hand-wringing, claw-waving crab is revealed in this rapid-fire comedy of piscine paranoia. Ages 3-7. (Apr.) - Copyright 2025
School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 PreS-Gr 3—This hilarious book is going to be a big hit with young readers. An unseen storyteller starts by describing the five different kingdoms of animals, in artwork that is both realistic and traditional. Once the narration gets to the fish kingdom, story and art change. There are wild opinions thrown about covering how fish don't follow the rules—some have gills and some have lungs. Then the conspiracy theories start: "We can't see fish. What are they talking about? We must learn their fishy secrets." The illustrations continue to evolve into a more fantastical and comical style, with images that will have readers laughing out loud. What's really funny is the surprise that gives Sharpson and Santat the last laugh. This is a terrific book for young readers who will be highly entertained by the text and images, but it could also be used with older students for a lesson on bias, author's purpose, and media literacy. VERDICT A must for every library. It is accessible to young and old, wildly entertaining, and effortlessly instructive.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
