skysalla's review against another edition
4.0
When I finished this book the first words out of my mouth were “Thats terrible”
But as you sit on it a bit and read the about the author flap it’s actually a very good book about the consequences of being a bully. The ugly part of ugly fish is his personality and how he treats others.
Hard to say if he gets what he deserves, as I think it’s dangerous to teach kids to payback in kind vs working through the problem to learn to be better people.
But this is a cautionary fish tale I suppose.
But as you sit on it a bit and read the about the author flap it’s actually a very good book about the consequences of being a bully. The ugly part of ugly fish is his personality and how he treats others.
Hard to say if he gets what he deserves, as I think it’s dangerous to teach kids to payback in kind vs working through the problem to learn to be better people.
But this is a cautionary fish tale I suppose.
angelfisher0908's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my boys' favorite books. We love the humor and lesson learned in the end.
dmtcer's review
1.0
Oh my gosh - I did NOT like this book at all! I expected Ugly Fish to find a friend - but instead, he ate the new fish in the tank, and then he faced the same fate when another bigger fish was put into his tank. Totally unredeeming - I am not sure what good qualities I can give this story!
luann's review
3.0
Ugly Fish is ugly, and big, and mean. He doesn't like to share his tank, his driftwood tunnel, or his briny flakes. So when new fish appear in his tank, well, he eats them. But after a while he gets lonely. So he tries to be friends with the next new fish to appear in his tank.
On the surface, I really like this story. It's just slightly wacky with interesting, quirky illustrations that go well with the story. But as a story designed to teach a lesson about childhood bullying, I don't think it really works. I don't think that the outcome with Shiny Fish would have been any different if Ugly Fish himself had been nicer. Unless he had been nice to some smaller fish and they had worked together when Shiny Fish came along? Ugly Fish did get what he deserved, but Teensy Fish, Kissy Fish, Stripy Fish and Spotty Fish came to the same end and that wasn't what they deserved at all. Or maybe I'm thinking about this too much? As I said, on the surface, I really do like this story and its illustrations. It's when I start to think deeper about what the story is trying to teach that I hit some problems.
And, as an adult reader, I want to know about this fish tank owner who keeps putting new fish in with Ugly Fish - again and again!
On the surface, I really like this story. It's just slightly wacky with interesting, quirky illustrations that go well with the story. But as a story designed to teach a lesson about childhood bullying, I don't think it really works. I don't think that the outcome with Shiny Fish would have been any different if Ugly Fish himself had been nicer. Unless he had been nice to some smaller fish and they had worked together when Shiny Fish came along? Ugly Fish did get what he deserved, but Teensy Fish, Kissy Fish, Stripy Fish and Spotty Fish came to the same end and that wasn't what they deserved at all. Or maybe I'm thinking about this too much? As I said, on the surface, I really do like this story and its illustrations. It's when I start to think deeper about what the story is trying to teach that I hit some problems.
And, as an adult reader, I want to know about this fish tank owner who keeps putting new fish in with Ugly Fish - again and again!
ruthisheretoo's review
4.0
Six and four year old love this one. though to be honest I think the fact that they own a fish tank made them the think the moral of the story was, "Of COURSE you don't put fish with big mouths into the same tank as littler fish!!" rather than an anti-bullying/you get what's coming to you message that was obviously intended. ;) great illustrations and a fun read aloud to make different voices for each fish.
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