Customer Reviews

Ugly Fish

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Great story, great illustrations. Possibly the best book I have bought for my son so far.

My oldest boy has NLD (similar to Asperger's) and has some trouble understanding social situations. This book was wonderful for him to see how Ugly Fish was mean to the other fish and how that hurt himself in the end. I really enjoyed reading it with the funny voices and acting it out with my boys. The three of us have read it several times since we brought it home a few days ago. Warning...in the end ugly fish gets eaten so don't buy it if you're a happy ending only type.

This is one of the funniest children's books ever! I can't stop laughing half the time to finish reading to the kids. Finally something w/o all the schmaltz!

I don't want to be a spoiler - so I can just say that this book is hilariously surprising in its non-conformity. Even when I read this to a bunch of adults, a few gasped in shock. If you are buying this for a child, consider whether that child gets upset when things don't go well for cute little characters - in fact, they go REALLY REALLY badly. The illustrations are well-done and edgy and the storyline is just refreshing as heck.

Ugly Fish has a vague moral to the story, if any. "Don't bully or you may be bullied?" But it has great pictures. It's nice to watch this very ugly fish in action. Young kids have an affinity to odd looking creatures, and things getting eaten. It made such an impression, in fact, that I got tired of borrowing it from the library, and just bought it.

Excellent book! My four year old nephew made me read it four times in a row before I could distract him.

This is one of the better children's books I have read to my kiddos! The artwork was charming and very easy to understand for my 6 YO. She was able to understand the concept of the book as well. What a great book about bullying! I would recommend this book to any parent!