5 Wonderful Stars 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 ama... more

5 Wonderful Stars 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/review-sea-monster-and-the-bossy-fish-by-kate-messner-andy-rash/