June 1, 2013
Sea Monster's second outing finds him with his first-day resourcefulness intact (Sea Monster's First Day, 2011). When Sea Monster learns of a new student in his class, he goes out of his way to be kind to him. But instead of cowering and being shy, as Sea Monster did on his first day, the new fish is something of a braggart, always comparing (negatively) his old school with this new one. He also turns out to be quite bossy, selfish and unkind. On his second day, he starts the Fresh Fish Club (he's president, of course) for all the cool fish, passing out sunglasses for the members. Sea Monster is quite pleased with his new shades...until he sees that not everyone is wearing them. "Suddenly, my cool new shades felt heavy on my snout." He ponders a way to include everyone, and the Friend Fish club is started. The members wear buttons and do good deeds for one another. Proving his worth as a diplomat, Sea Monster kindly deflects the new fish's declaration that he'll be president, asking the newcomer to instead use his drumming talent for the good of all. The tale ends with a rhyming song about the new club and their friendly mission. Rash's artwork is a hoot, filled with humorous and hidden details (don't miss the book titles in the library). Sea Monster keeps delivering important messages in fun ways. What issue will he tackle next? (Picture book. 4-7)

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August 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-There's a new fish in Sea Monster's school, and he's boorish, bossy, and a braggart. Nevertheless, Sea Monster is kind and friendly, and gives him a tour. First up is the music room, where the choir is singing, "The eels on the bus...." Then, it's on to the cafeteria and the library, which is stocked with such titles as The World According to Carp and Make Way for Minnows. Bossy Fish is pretty much unimpressed by what he sees because his former school was way cooler. In P.E., he declares himself the slam-dunk champ, and he is much too much of a critic in art class. He gives his new classmates insulting nicknames, and he declares himself president of his Fresh Fish Club. Everyone gets shades so that they too can look cool, although he doesn't allow some "old and stodgy looking" fish to join. Sea Monster then decides to create a club devoted to doing good deeds, and everyone is welcome. Bossy Fish almost upends that as well when he decides he'd make a great president, but Sea Monster thinks quickly and appoints him the drummer of the school band. "When everybody plays, /it's way more fun./So the Friend Fish team's for everyone!" The message is nice but a little heavy-handed. The bad puns are likely to go over children's heads, and adults will groan. Nevertheless, Rash's gouache and India ink illustrations are humorous and are drawn in a fashion resembling Saturday-morning cartoons. For general or supplemental purchase.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
A new fish starts school and is soon ruling the class, handing out nicknames, bossing others around, and hogging all the dress-up clothes. When the showy newcomer starts an exclusive club, Ernest, the kind and thoughtful sea monster, starts one of his own that includes everyone. The lesson is prescriptive, but aquatic puns punctuating boldly colored illustrations will draw in audiences.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)