In this companion to The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark (2010), Mr. Fish recalls his first day of school. Since he doesn't know where to go, he peers into several classrooms where students are writing, doing math, and drawing shapes. Pout-Pout becomes frustrated because he can't do the work and vows to "forget it." Finally, he meets his teacher (Miss Hewitt of the lovely green eyes and long, flowing blond tentacles), who kindly escorts him to her classroom for brand-new fish, where all kinder-guppies succeed. Fans of this series will appreciate Diesen's rhythmic d ultimately reassuring xt, and Hanna's sunny illustrations contain many clever details (an octopus operates a "clam cam," and the art wing sports a poster of "Leonardo da Pinchy," an artistic crab). This should comfort school-phobic preschoolers and slightly older children who can remember their own anxieties. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Diesen and Hanna are reeling in a big one here. With 1.8 million Pout-Pout books already in print, this might just push it over the big 2.

In Mr. Fish's latest rhymed tale, he reflects on his first experience at school, where he had to try several different classrooms before he found the right one (marked "Brand-new fish"). Hanna comes through with illustrations of the unlikely hero--just look at the pitiful/hilarious one of an upside-down school-age Mr. Fish trying to negotiate a mind-melting math problem.

In repeating, rhymed verse, Diesen recounts Mr. Fish-s first day of school. With big, purple-rimmed eyes and downturned lips, he roams from classroom to classroom, trying to keep up (-The class was doing math,/ And most everybody knew it./ So he tried long division.../ But he just couldn-t do it-). Finally, kindly Miss Hewitt introduces him to her classroom for Brand-New Fish-right where he belongs. While Mr. Fish-s story ends a bit oddly, with a class reunion years later, readers who have known the sinking feeling of falling behind at school should find their spirits buoyed. Ages 2-5. Author-s agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group. (July)

PreS-K Pout-Pout Fish is back, this time recalling when he left for school "for the first time of all." As he floats down the corridor looking into each classroom, however, he discovers students doing things that, try as he might, he just can't accomplish. With failures at writing, drawing shapes, and long division, the discouraged fish counts off his troubles: "I'm not smart! I'll never get it! I don't belong! So forget it!" Enter Miss Hewitt, his understanding teacher, who assures Fish that "You don't have to know things/You haven't learned yet!" "I'm here to help you learn," she continues. "With practice, you will get it." The humorous cartoon illustrations depict a variety of sea creatures at their schoolwork and large views of Fish earnestly trying various tasks and giving up in "flub-flub exasperation," tongue lolling out of his mouth or hiding under his writing pad. Each time he recites his troubles, he appears hanging onto letters, shapes, or numbers. Youngsters will enjoy repeating the bouncy rhymed text. And when they are faced with a new challenge or when things seem too difficult, they can repeat the mantra "We are smart! We can get it! We belong! We won't forget it!" A confidence-boosting offering. Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT