Review by Booklist Review
Does a fish need to wear pants? When Octopus tells Fish they don't need pants on account of having no legs, Fish goes on, unperturbed, to name a host of other fun accessories and articles of clothing it would like to wear, such as colorful ribbons, mittens, a bow tie, or a tutu. Of course, Octopus rejects them all, and informs Fish it doesn't need to wear anything, to which Fish replies, "What if I want to?" The big point of the story comes in the scene that follows, in which Octopus wonders whether Fish is afraid of being made fun of. Fish, unafraid, wears whatever the heck it wants, and everything is fine; eventually even Octopus feels secure enough to join in and wear pants on all of its eight legs. The cute digital cartoons with some undersea backgrounds and bright colors make the whole thing quite fun, keeping the story's tone lighthearted and neutral--nothing to see here, just two sea creatures having fun wearing silly outfits.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Interpersonal engagement anchors a simple undersea tale that unfolds via conversation. At story's start, an enthusiastic yellow and orange fish muses, "I need pants." When a purple octopus responds logically ("You do not have legs. You do not need pants"), the fish pushes back, then launches into a list of further needs (toasty bunny slippers, a pink tutu, rainbow ribbons, warming mittens, and more), portrayed in Doherty's expressive, coloring book--style illustrations. Rather than holding space for the fish's desires, the octopus offers myriad reasons why the garb is unnecessary. Finally, though, the root of the matter arises as the fish indicates, "I know fish don't need to wear anything. But what if I want to?" In direct prose, Sweet models how friends can learn to be attuned to each other, quirks and all. Ages 3--7. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--In a premise that will surely delight children, Fish has decided that they need pants. When Octopus gently explains that Fish doesn't have legs, making pants unnecessary, Fish thinks of other clothing they might need. Maybe Fish needs a tutu for ballet, slippers to keep warm at night, or ribbons in their hair. Each time, Octopus explains why those items aren't needed. But when Fish finally gets a pair of pants, Octopus realizes that Fish may have been right all along. This silly and simple story features dialogue between Fish and Octopus that is engaging and clear, with directional lines that help young readers identify the speakers. The repetitive structure and easy sentences are easy for emerging readers to grasp, reinforcing the playful back-and-forth of Fish and Octopus's conversation. Visually, the book features a mix of monochromatic backgrounds and ocean scenes; while charming, this approach may confuse literal-minded early readers, who might wonder why the ocean is suddenly pink or green. Nevertheless, with a funny setup and a repetitive structure, this would be a solid choice for shared reading or independent practice. VERDICT Funny and simple, this book will be a story hour hit with children, as well as an option for early independent reading.--Louie Lauer
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Review by Horn Book Review
"I need pants!" exclaims an enthusiastic orange fish. And also bunny slippers, and a tutu, and a diamond ring, and a raincoat ("It is very wet around here!!!"). The fish's companion, a purple octopus, grows increasingly exasperated while explaining that the fish does not actually need clothes or accessories. But then the octopus has a change of heart. The lively illustrations, featuring the fish improbably but successfully wearing different items of clothing, add to the humor. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A sea dweller muses on the wonders of clothing. Deep on the ocean floor, a golden fish definitively declares, "I need pants." A wise octopus friend rebuffs the idea: "You do not have legs. You do not need pants." So the fish considers other possibilities: "Then I need slippers--fuzzy bunny slippers to keep me warm at night." Or "a pretty pink tutu. I cannot possibly do ballet without one." The octopus says no to each option, with increasingly frenetic tentacle waving. "You do not have feet. You do not need slippers." "Fish swim. They do not do ballet." After the octopus rejects rainbow hair ribbons ("You know you don't have hair, right?"), mittens ("You have fins, not hands"), diamond rings ("No fingers, no ring"), and even underwear, the exasperated fish cries: "Well, I must need a raincoat! It is very wet around here!!!" Sweet's quick, staccato text could spark an intriguing discussion of wants versus needs and will encourage readers to embrace their own individual styles. The thickly lined undersea world is full of bright, saturated color, and the expressive protagonists are utterly endearing. Happily, the octopus comes around and even partakes in some fashionable fun. A fin-tastic look at individuality.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
