Today I'm excited because it was our last Friday of this school year
hook, line, and sinker.
Title: The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark
Author: Deborah Diesen
Illustrator: Dan Hanna
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Date: August 17, 2010
Fiction
Suitable for: ages 3-6
Themes: feelings of fear, courage, friendship
Brief synopsis: Ms. Clam needs help when her little pearl is lost at sea. Can the Pout-Pout Fish conquer his fear of the dark so that he can keep a promise?
Opening page:
A doozie of a drowsy
Made Ms. Clam yawn.
Then a big current whooshed
And her pearl was GONE!
Resources:
Sing along with the Pout-Pout Fish song:
Project-Based Learning: Read the book, research ocean life, then hold an Aquarium Open House. Here's a sneak peek into the sea-life event that Mrs. Martin's Kindergarten learners hosted this afternoon; talk about courageous!
Why I like this book:
Who wouldn't savor this sea-worthy story as we sail in to summer? Cute and clever, this rhyming underwater treat serves up an all-important underlying truth:
We are bigger than the dark.
Mr. Fish knows his strengths, but he's also well-aware of his limitations. And although he wants to help his friend recover what was lost, he realizes that he must first muster up a whole lot of what he doesn't have much of when it comes to the dark: courage!
Courage comes in all shapes and sizes. For Mr. Fish, it's going to come shaped like Miss Shimmer, who works side-by-side with him to keep his promise, face his fears, brave the dark, and recover that pearl. Find out from your little sponges what scares them and let them share their strategies for mastering those
scared feelings.
Check out this book and the other Pout-Pout Fish titles,
What a great and timely share for you! Would you believe I've never read a Pout Pout book. Must do something about that. Love the courage theme.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find them entertaining, Pat; a bit kooky but endearing. Thanks for stopping by ~ you're right about why I might be connecting with this theme at this time!
DeleteSounds like a good one. I love all the activities you included.
ReplyDeleteAnd happy summer holidays, Barbara! I have 19 more teaching days:)
Thank you, Barb. We've only got 2 1/2; best as you work to finish strong. I actually thought about you at our Aquarium because it would also work to follow-up one of your faves, A Salmon For Simon.
DeleteI was surprised to discover that there are "real" pout-pout fish in the sea. Definitely need to catch up on these books. Thanks for the fun activities.
ReplyDelete