I need pants!

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

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.