Sashimi, by Dan Santat, (Apr. 2026, Roaring Brook Press), $8.99, ISBN: 9781250360007
Ages 8-12
Yes, I am one of those readers that will pick up anything with Dan Santat’s name on it, but can you blame me? Beekle? Are We There Yet? The Cookie Fiasco? Then you have A First Time for Everything and The Aquanaut… trust me, I can go on and on. My point is, Dan Santat is one of the most versatile author-illustrators out there, and I love everything he creates. His newest graphic novel, A Fishboy Named Sashimi is another home run for me. The town is Barnacle Bay, and they have their own cryptid: The Beast of Barnacle Bay. When new kid Sashimi shows up at the school, he befriends Joey, whose grandfather – GASP – has been hunting The Beast for years. Which poses a big problem for Sashimi, who’s in Barnacle Bay trying to find the Beast, because he wants to find others like him. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and sight gags aplenty, this is a great “fish out of water” story (ugh, I’ll show myself out) with a lovable main character. Highlights include Sashimi trying Mouthbomb, a soda outlawed in three states for its sugar content, and Sashimi befriending a little octopus named Tako… in a supermarket. Endearing, fast-paced, and with the promise of two additional adventures, this is a must-add to collections. It’s going to fly off the shelves. Promise. A Fishboy Named Sashimi has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.
Thanks again to Roaring Brook Press, who also sent me this awesome water bottle, assuring that I finally drink water while I’m at work!
Mom Read It 