Hello, Everyone!
Thank goodness it’s Friday – Perfect Picture Book Friday! – because have I got a book for you!
There are so many wonderful picture books out there. Fiction and nonfiction. Books that help kids understand themselves. Books that give kids a glimpse of the world around them. Books that make children feel seen and heard and understood. And books that make sure they know that whatever they’re going through, they’re not alone.
But sometimes?
You just want a book to make you laugh 😊
Guess what kind of book I have to share today? 😊
Are you ready?
Before we get started, I just want to warn you: don’t trust fish!
Title: Don’t Trust Fish
Written By: Neil Sharpson
Illustrated By: Dan Santat
Publisher: Dial Books, April 8, 2025, fiction
Suitable For Ages: publisher says 3-7, I think 4 or 5-8
Themes/Topics: animal classification, humor
text copyright Neil Sharpson 2025, illustration copyright Dan Santat 2025, Dial Books
Opening:
“This animal has fur.
This animal is warm-blooded.
This animal feeds her babies milk.
This animal is a MAMMAL.”
Brief Synopsis: DON’T TRUST FISH!
text copyright Neil Sharpson 2025, illustration copyright Dan Santat 2025, Dial Books
Links To Resources: Funnily enough, this book actually is a little resource in that it details distinguishing characteristics of groups in the animal kingdom: mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and, yes, even fish, if you can trust anything they tell you about fish 😊 Make a list of random animals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and see if kids can say which group the animal they’re given fits into; use the same list to make a game of animal classification Bingo, with a card for each category so that when kids fill their cards they see lots of animals from that category. Ask kids to consider why some other characteristics are not included in classification requirements: for example, do all birds fly?
text copyright Neil Sharpson 2025, illustration copyright Dan Santat 2025, Dial Books
Why I Like This Book: Like I said, sometimes you just want a book to make you laugh, and this one delivers! While some of the humor may be over the heads of youngest picture book readers, and some kids might be a little alarmed by the idea of fish peeking up out of the toilet, most young readers are likely to be delighted by the outrageous and unexpected humor on every turn of this book’s pages. The art is equally hysterical, a perfect match for the text. And cleverly woven in to all the humor is some actual, factual information which kids are likely to remember because it’s presented in such a fun way. Fans of Jon Klassen’s work (I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, We Found A Hat, and many more) are sure to love this one!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Sounds like a trip to the Museum of Natural History in a book. ♥️ Dan Santat. Thank you for sharing. I recall the dead fish being flushed down the toilet. Ha!
Hopefully you never saw a live one coming up out of the toilet! 🙂
Haven’t read this latest Santat creation yet, but you’ve intrigued me. And it’s perfect for Father’s Day – at least my dad always complained about trying to catch them!
It is SO funny, Patricia. I laughed out loud more than once reading it. Maybe it’s just my sense of humor, but I think it’s hysterical, and your dad would probably love it 🙂
This one sounds hysterical! I love books with just a tad bit of dark humor. It will make a great mentor text and comp for one of my WIPs. Thanks for sharing it!
My pleasure, Kim! I hope it makes you laugh as much as it made me laugh! 🙂
OMG this looks hysterical. I love how they have a leader.
I know! And he looks SO fearsome 🤣
Very funny! Must read it again!
-also love the idea of a classification game!
Yeah, this one really tickled my funny bone 🤣
I just read this the other day, too. Loved it!
Isn’t it great, Tina?! So clever!
I agree. Fish have a lot of explaining to do! Will have to get my hand son this book ASAP. Thanks for the rec, Susanna!
Hahaha! They certainly do, Jilanne! Clearly, they are up to NO GOOD!
I LOVE this book as well! It’s genius!
Just what we need a fun book with facts!
I’m looking forward to reading this one. This week, I’ve added several books to be my library holds. I love Perfect Picture Book Fridays!
DON’T TRUST FISH is one of my favorite books of 2025. Love the humor, and it’s a great example of a story with multiple hooks. (And wow–imagine having your first picture book illustrated by Dan Santat!)
This book looks hilarious…right up my alley!
We all need a good old “funny” book to read! This one looks like it’s The “perfect” PB to make you giggle! Thanks, Susanna for sharing this one!😁