Fish Don't Go to School

by Deb Pilutti

Overview

In this endearing picture book about the rewards of self-expression, Henry feels a bit nervous on his first day of school, so he chooses to wear his favorite fish costume to give him courage. Perfect for fans of Dragonboy and Julián Is a Mermaid.

Henry loves the way he feels in his sparkly fish costume. He wears it everywhere he goes: to the grocery store, at the dinner table, and even when taking his fish, Marigold, for a walk. On his first day of school, Henry is feeling anxious. He wishes he could take Marigold with him, but his mom says fish don’t go to school. That’s okay—Henry knows just what to wear to make himself feel braver.

This heartwarming story follows Henry as he faces his fears and makes new friends, all while staying true to himself.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316565271
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/08/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Deb Pilutti is the award-winning creator of many books for children, including Old Rock (is not boring), which was a Kirkus Reviews and Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year; Ten Steps to Flying Like a Superhero, which earned a starred review from School Library Journal; and Ten Rules of Being a Superhero. Deb lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and invites you to visit her online at www.debpilutti.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Fish Don't Go to School
An Amazon Best Book of the Month

"Children will enjoy reading about Henry’s first day of school and seeing how he maintains his individuality and makes new friends."—School Library Journal

"An offbeat and empathetic take on handling first-day-of-school anxieties."

—Kirkus Reviews

“The third-person narrative excels at representing the child’s viewpoint.... Pilutti’s bright, lively illustrations were created with gouache, wax pastels, and 'a bit of digital painting.' A playful picture book focusing on the first-day-of-school theme.”—Booklist

From the Publisher

2025-03-22
Like many kids, Henry wants to wear his favorite outfit on the first day of school.

Unlike other children, however, Henry enjoys wearing an oversize fish costume that makes him look like his beloved goldfish, Marigold. His face peeps through the mask, and the costume contains holes for his legs, but everything else is covered. Despite his parents’ apprehension and his own concerns, Henry goes ahead with his unusual get-up; after all, it feels like “wearing a hug.” No one sits next to Henry at circle time, but things improve as the day progresses. Slowly, he finds himself shedding parts of his costume: He gives a classmate named Lucy his fins so he can more easily use scissors while working on an art project, he lets Mr. Blake hold his tail at recess, and he trades the fish head for Lucy’s cat ears at storytime. Eventually, Henry’s down to just a scaly orange vest, which has become his new treasured item. Pilutti’s understated multimedia illustrations pair well with the text, a mix of narration and realistic dialogue presented in speech bubbles. Laudably, while the adults in Henry’s life express doubts about his wardrobe choices, they give him the space he needs to figure things out; though his journey’s a bit rocky, it comes to a quietly triumphant conclusion. Henry is pale-skinned; his classmates are diverse.

An offbeat and empathetic take on handling first-day-of-school anxieties.(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews