Poor Little Guy

March 14, 2016
The ocean can be a tough place, and Allen’s eponymous hero, a diminutive bespectacled fish that resembles a tennis ball with fins, has found himself in the path of an octopus so huge that even the margins of the page can’t contain him. Worse, Octopus uses his tentacles to toy with Little Guy, creating a maze, a cage, and then—in a move that should vanquish any ideas that Octopus is just a genial galoot—a serving platter. But when the right moment presents itself, Little Guy reveals that he’s actually a very prickly puffer fish, turning the tables—and the title—on his bully. Allen (the Eva and Sadie books) renders the ocean in pale swirls of green and blue that create a powerful sense of underwater movement; her calligraphic hand-lettered text swims in and around the action. Though figuring out where to focus takes a little work, if readers keep their eye on Little Guy, they’ll be rewarded with a clever and visually striking tale that proves revenge is a dish best served wet. Ages 3–5. Agent: Julie Kane Ritsch, Gotham Group.

March 15, 2016
A small, bespectacled pufferfish must face the everyday reality of being a small fish in a world full of big fishes. Readers first see the pufferfish swimming alone, totally unaware of a giant eye looking in its direction. As the fish makes its way along, it passes in front of two giant eyes; these, it notices. "Gulp." The fish glances back in fear. Thinking it's escaped unscathed, the fish breathes a sigh of relief just as a long tentacle sneaks up from behind. "Hello, little guy! Let's play... / Catch of the Day!" says a big octopus that's just a bit too friendly. Allen wrings a lot of humor from the wickedly funny abuse the octopus inflicts on the pufferfish, inventing a series of bizarre scenarios that increase in absurdity. The hand-lettered text, meanwhile, twists and turns on the page according to the whims of the octopus. The book at times recalls Jon Klassen's This Is Not My Hat (2012) in both subversive humor and minimalist aesthetic. Muted, vague strokes coil and curl around the yellow pufferfish and white octopus, conveying motion and contrasting against a plain backdrop that alternates between sea green and light blue. Eventually, the octopus wonders if the "cute" fish tastes "cute" and pops it in its (anatomically incorrect) mouth. "Ohh! You taste adorabl...." Though knowing readers will predict what happens next, it nonetheless still packs a punch. A clear victory for a pufferfish and, more importantly, readers. (Picture book. 3-7)

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June 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-There is always a larger fish in the sea. And sometimes that larger fish can be a little...insensitive. A small yellow fish, sporting stylish spectacles, is swimming through the ocean, minding his own business, when he is grabbed by a much larger octopus. The fish swims a little faster, hoping he can escape, but the octopus reaches out one sinuous tentacle and drags him back to "play." The octopus's play is rough and inconsiderate-he flings the little yellow fish from tentacle to tentacle, shouting, "Catch of the Day!," among other tricks that the octopus finds hilarious and the little yellow fish finds terrifying. The octopus gets wilder and wilder until he finally decides he might swallow the fish. When he tries to do so, he gets a big surprise. That little yellow fish is a puffer and leaves the octopus with spines in his mouth. This book has very few words, so the illustrations take center stage. Allen uses a variety of perspectives to convey feelings, both those of the little fish and the boisterous octopus. Readers will feel a wide range of emotions-fear, annoyance, frustration, and, finally, vindication. There is a gorgeous palette here, too, atmospheric and full of motion. VERDICT The large, clear images will show up well in a storytime, and the surprise ending will have readers going back again and again to see the octopus's reaction. The term poor little guy is relative.-Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Following an underwater cat-and-mouse game, a bespectacled little fish ends up in an octopus's hungry mouth--only to enjoy the last laugh when he reveals himself as a blowfish (ouch!). This rewarding, sparsely worded tale is told largely through its main characters' expressive features, including creatively inescapable octopus arms. The illustrations' swirly backgrounds and wide-eyed faces balance the predator-vs.-prey drama.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)