In this sequel to The Pout-Pout Fish, Mr. Fish promises Ms. Clam that he will retrieve her lost pearl, but as he swims closer to the dark sea bottom, "his heart flit-fluttered." With Miss Shimmer's help, however, he may find the pearl-and his inner courage. With colorful seascapes and bright-eyed ocean characters, Hanna gives this spirited tale light doses of humor ("Rest stop!" reads a neon sign on an anglerfish's lure), as Diesen delivers a gentle moral: "The ocean is wide,/ And the ocean is deep,/ But friends help friends-/ That's a promise we keep." Ages 2-5. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Despite his fear of the dark, Mr. Fish ventures into the ocean's black depths in search of Ms. Clam's missing pearl. Encouraged in his pursuit by unseen supporters, the fish learns that friends can help you be brave. A lilting rhyme and expressive cartoon illustrations invite contemplation, allowing readers to search for hidden clues and details within the drawings and text. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Gr 1-Mr. Fish goes on an undersea adventure to reclaim Ms. Clam's lost pearl. Repeating his mantra, "I'm FAST as a sailfish,/I'm STRONG as a shark,/I'm SMART as a dolphin," he nervously admits, "But I'm SCARED OF THE DARK!" As he ventures through deeper and darker waters, his resolution falters: "I know I made a promise,/But this fish is headin' back!" With the help of Miss Shimmer and Mr. Lantern, he not only conquers his fears, but also finds the missing pearl. The playful, rhyming verse is well matched with Hanna's funny cartoon illustrations. The whimsical sea creatures include a puffer fish reading Diesen's The Pout-Pout Fish (Farrar, 2008). A buoyant tale.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Mr. Fish heroically offers to find Ms. Clam's lost pearl, and as he ventures forth, gentle suspense ensues when he finds himself heading for deeper and darker waters. Young readers will enjoy the energetic and detailed cartoon-like illustrations of this friendly-yet-mysterious underwater world (the scenes deep in the ocean trench are particularly effective), while the rollicking, rhythmic text will have readers diving in with Mr. Fish as he repeatedly admits, "I'm FAST as a sailfish, I'm STRONG as a shark, I'm SMART as dolphin...But I'm scared of the dark." Fans of The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) will find just as much to love here, and any youngster who has been afraid of the dark will identify with Mr. Fish's struggle. Luckily, our hero has dedicated friends who help him deal with his anxiety, continue on his quest and keep his promise to Ms. Clam. The final notes of friendship and bravery will resonate with young readers. An entertaining read-aloud and a nice lighthearted vehicle for dealing with fear. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

When Ms. Clam loses her pearl from an epic yawn, Mr. Fish offers to fetch it from the sea floor. As he swims deeper and deeper, he begins to get tremulous though he knows he is fast and strong and smart, he is afraid of the dark. At last, when the inky depths are more than he can stand, Mr. Lantern shines a light, and together the friends rescue the pearl. Kids listening to the rhythmic text will have plenty to look at, with cartoony fish engaged in all manner of visual jokes. This cheerful book may also help them learn something about conquering their fear of the dark.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist