Sharpson, Neil. Don’t Trust Fish. Dan Santat, Illus. Dial, 04/2025. 40pp. Picture Book. PLB $18.99. 978-0593616673. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Fish are not friends in this funny take on a nature guide. Sharpson introduces different animal groups, each fitting neatly into their categories—until we get to fish. They don’t follow the rules. “Fish spend all of their time in the water. Where we can’t see them . . . Are they plotting our doom?” Sharpson blends quirky fish facts (a whale shark is the largest fish in the world) with sharply opinionated humor (“It’s the size of a bus. That’s not okay”). Santat’s digital illustrations are perfectly paired with the text, reinforcing the notion that fish aren’t to be trusted. The pages are filled with apathetic fish engaging in espionage, sometimes as full scenes with hidden details, and sometimes solely focused on a single fish’s dubious expression. Whether you trust fish or not, this book will liven up a small group read. Of course, given the narrator’s vantage point from beneath the waves, we might want to take his views on fish with a grain of sea salt.
Alexandra Pantazes—Mountain View Public Library