Ugly Fish

As an educator, I was not completely confident that this would go over well in a classroom. I thought that the illustrations could end up in a room full of frightened preschoolers. However, after taking the chance, I have found that this is a hit for kids of ALL ages. I find that when I give voices to the different fish, the kids can't keep their eyes off the book. It is so popular in the classroom that I've had to invest in multiple copies.

Our son loves this book. While so many childrens' books are just too sugar-sweet, this one teaches a valuable lesson. We've given it as a gift to other parents of young ones--all have called it a favorite.

This has quickly taken top billing as the story before bed. It's a combo of the fun imaginitive drawings and the unexpected turn at the end that gets giggles everytime. The story, at least in our house, is read as a cautionary tale.... Ugly Fish finds himself in a pickle because of his actions, it's rule number one: do unto others as you would have them do unto you! The book has mastered a great blend of humor, fun characters, and a refreshingly offbeat storyline.

Ugly Fish has quickly become one of my family's favorite books for kids. We all love the illustrations and the fun story. It is a cautionary tale but not at all "black humor" as one reviewer characterized it. Kids love it and can learn from the ending that being a bully doesn't pay off. Definitely a must-have book!

This is my favorite picture book of 2006. I have used it with a mixed age group (1st-6th grades) in a summer writing institute and with the graduate students in my children's literature class. It is unusual and unique both in its illustrations and its story of Ugly Fish who eats up the other fish who are put into his fish tank. Don't miss this one!