Nominated for the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
More than 500.000 copies sold internationally
At a time when children are growing up with emoticons, Van Hout gives a new interpretation to emotions. On every spread, a different fish swims towards the viewer, with its mood articulated in expressive letters on the page next to it by the artist herself (including all translations that have been published to date). A proud fish swims with its nose held high, while a nervous one is composed of a jumble of shaky lines. A school of fish that, whether they’re sad or surprised, will certainly make the reader feel pretty cheerful.
‘A tour de force of underwater awesomeness and emotion, showcasing what an artist can do with a few pastels, black paper and something fundamental to express.’ — New York Times Book Review
‘A delightful amuse-bouche of a book, and an aquatic introduction to everyday emotions.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
‘The line, color, and texture make each page a pleasure to return to.’ — Kirkus
