Top Fish Books: Young Fry edition

horizontalBy Abigail Lynch

A number of years ago, Patrick Cooney wrote a top ten list of books about fish.  Here, we revisit that concept for children’s books with a list of ten titles that have inspired us and our own young fry at the Fisheries Blog (listed in alphabetical order, these books are all too good to rank!).  Consider these for any aspiring Eugenie Clarks or Spencer Fullerton Bairds in your family and please add any other favorite fish books in the comments section below!

  1. A Fish Out of Water (by Helen Marion Palmer; Illustrated by P.D. Eastman)
fish out of water
What happens when you over feed your fish?
  1. Fish do the Strangest Things (by Lenora and Arther Hornblow; Illustrated by Michael K. Frith)
fish do the strangest things
The fascinating diversity of fish and things they can do!
  1. One fish two fish red fish blue fish (by Dr. Seuss)
one fish two fish
Fish, rhymes, numbers, colors, tongue-twisters to flaunt; what more could you want?
  1. Shark Lady (by Jess Keating; Illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns)
shark lady
The true story of Eugenie Clark, the famous shark biologist.
  1. Swimmy (by Leo Lionni)
swimmy
It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a little cooperation (including a nod to optimal foraging theory, too!).
  1. The Great White Man-Eating Shark (by Margaret Mahy; Illustrated by Jonathan Allen)
great white
When a very smart plan goes spectacularly awry…
  1. The Pout-Pout Fish (by Deborah Diesen; Illustrated by Dan Hanna)
pout pout
One small little action can change your whole perspective!
  1. The Rainbow Fish (by Marcus Pfister)
rainbow fish
With a lesson on sharing and friendship.
  1. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout (by Teri Sloat; Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins)
old lady swallowed a trout
This is a very special lady with a very special digestive tract!
  1. This is not my hat (by Jon Klassen)
this is not my hat
A simple and understated lesson on why not to steal.

Please add other favorite fish books for young fry in the comments section below!

4 Comments Add yours

  1. Christina says:

    The Kraken’s rules for making friends by Brittany R. Jacobs

    1. Abigail J. Lynch says:

      Thanks for the suggestion, Christina!

  2. Carolyn Thomas says:

    Trout are Made of Treesby April Sayre deserves to be on this list.

    1. Abigail J. Lynch says:

      Thanks, Carolyn! This is a new one to me – but it looks like it should be added to my family library! There are a few additional titles that have become favorites in our household since this original post that I’d like to share including Trout, Trout, Trout (also by April Sayre; illustrated by Trip Park) and I used to be a fish (Tom Sullivan).

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