Pout Pout Fish – Mom Read It

The Official Trailer for The Pout-Pout Fish Movie just splashed down!

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

How much fun is this news? The Pout-Pout Fish is going to be a movie, with voice actors including Nick Offerman (best choice ever for Pout-Pout), Amy Sedaris, and Jordin Sparks! Take a look at the trailer, right here!

From the official press release:

“In the film adaptation, Emmy winner Nick Offerman leads an ensemble voice cast that also
features Nina Oyama, SAG Award winner Miranda Otto, Remy Hii, with Grammy nominee
Jordin Sparks and Emmy nominee Amy Sedaris. The film is directed by Ricard Cussó and codirected
by Rio Harrington and was written by Elise Allen, Elie Choufany and Dominic Morris.
The Pout-Pout Fish is the hilarious and heartwarming story of an unlikely duo: Mr. Fish
(Offerman) a pouty introvert and Pip (Oyama) an energetic sea dragon, who embark on a
daunting quest to find a legendary fish to grant their wish to save their homes.

“The Pout-Pout Fish has been cherished in classrooms and homes around the world, teaching
lessons of friendship, bravery, and self-discovery to an entire generation,” said Victor Elizalde,
CEO of Viva Pictures. “Bringing this beloved story to theaters reflects Viva’s commitment to
championing iconic IP and delivering bold, franchise-worthy animation. With its educational
legacy, global readership, and stunning adaptation for the big screen, The Pout-Pout Fish is
poised to inspire audiences everywhere.”

“The Pout-Pout Fish began as a single book and has since grown into a global franchise
embraced by readers, educators, and families everywhere,” said Jen Besser, President and
Publisher at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. “The film marks an exciting step in
expanding the world of The Pout-Pout Fish beyond publishing and onto the big screen.”
“From the first draft and designs, The Pout-Pout Fish had us hooked. We’re thrilled to see
buyers worldwide share our love for this unlikely duo — a pouty loner and a high-energy sea
dragon,” said Sola Media’s Managing Director, Solveig Langeland. “Viva is the perfect partner
for a wide U.S. release, and we’re confident they’ll reach the large North American audience
that already loves the bestselling book.”

The Pout-Pout Fish is 89 minutes.”

The Pout-Pout Fish is produced by Australian-based production company Like A Photon
Creative, MIMO Studios and Macmillan Publishers, who also financed.

The Pout-Pout Fish was Produced in Association with Macmillan Publishers. Produced with
the assistance of The Post Lounge Pty Ltd. Financed by Alceon Entertainment Partners Pty Ltd.
Production Financing Arranged by Eclectik Vision Capital Pty Ltd. Post Production, Digital and
Visual Effects work undertaken in Queensland, Australia with funding from Screen Queensland.
Produced by MIMO Studios. Produced by Like A Photon Creative. © 2025 Like A Photon
Creative Pty Ltd.

About Viva Pictures
Viva Pictures is a leading independent film production studio and all rights distributor dedicated
to delivering world-class family entertainment to global audiences. With a diverse portfolio of
animated films and original films in production, Viva Pictures strives to captivate and engage
viewers, fostering a love for storytelling and cinema for all ages. Recent successes include The
Amazing Maurice, which Viva debuted at the Sundance Film Festival before its wide theatrical
release, Night of the Zoopocalypse, and HITPIG, which played on over 2,000 screens
nationwide. Upcoming wide releases include Pets on a Train in theaters October 17 and Grand
Prix of Europe in theaters November 7. In addition, Viva Pictures has an equity interest in the
3D animation studio 3Doubles Producciones and continues to develop a slate of new
productions. Viva Pictures also owns Kidsflix, a kid-safe, parent-friendly FAST channel and
destination to stream free movies and TV series. Kidsflix is available on iTunes, Google Play,
Roku, and major TV brands worldwide.

For more information, visit vivafilmco.com.
https://www.vivafilmco.com/
Facebook: @vivakidsfilms
Instagram:@vivakidsfilms
YouTube: @vivapictures

About Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is comprised of eleven imprints: Balzer + Bray, Farrar
Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, Feiwel and Friends, First Second, Godwin Books,
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Odd Dot, Neon Squid, Priddy Books, Roaring Brook
Press, and Square Fish. These imprints are home to award-winning, New York Times–
bestselling authors, including Madeleine L’Engle, Natalie Babbitt, Leigh Bardugo, Gene Luen
Yang, Tomi Adeyemi, Marissa Meyer, Eric Carle, Nick Bruel, Loren Long, Angeline Boulley,
Nancy Tillman, John Patrick Green, George M. Johnson, Eoin Colfer, and hundreds more
popular authors and illustrators. Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is proud to publish
many of the classics of children’s literature, including A Wrinkle in Time.

The Pout-Pout Fish returns!

Posted on July 7, 2022July 6, 2022 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Worry Worry Whale, by Deborah Diesen/Illustrated by Dan Hanna, (June 2022, Farrar, Straus & Giroux), $18.99, ISBN: 9780374389307

Ages 3-6

The Pout-Pout Fish is back and helping a friend overcome anxiety in the newest Pout-Pout story! Pout-Pout is off to a party when he meets his friend, Willa Whale. Willa, who’s also supposed to be going to the party, is petrified with anxiety. What if there are too many guests? What if she doesn’t know what to say, or if no one wants to play with her? There is so much to worry about, but Mr. Fish is ready with some easy-to-follow tips to relieve her stress and get her to the party, where he checks in with her and makes sure she’s having a good time and feeling supported. The tips are great for Willa, and for younger readers who may need some coping tips for anxiety, too. Rhyming text and familiar, friendly faces will draw readers in right away. Kids may relate to Willa’s dilemma and appreciate seeing others with the same worries and ways to overcome them.

The Pout-Pout Fish books fit nicely into the CSLP Summer Reading “Oceans of Possibilities” theme. Visit the Pout-Pout Fish website for a look at all the Pout-Pout titles and free downloadables. Pair and display with Guido van Genechten’s Little White Fish books. For more about breathing exercises to relieve anxiety for children, visit this page on The Children’s Bureau’s website.

picture books, Preschool Reads

Two new Pout-Pout Fish adventures!

Posted on May 15, 2019May 14, 2019 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Pout-Pout Fish: Back to School, by Wes Adams/Illustrated by Isidre Monés, (May 2019, Farrar Straus Giroux), $5.99, ISBN: 9780374310479

Ages 3-6

The Pout-Pout Fish is off to school! This time, he’s a substitute teacher, subbing for his favorite teacher, Miss Hewitt, who’s down with a cold. On the way to school, he meets a nervous new student and helps him feel comfortable with his new school and new classmates. When Pout-Pout – Mr. Fish here – feels a little overwhelmed in front of his first class, the little fish is there to return the favor, giving Mr. Fish the confidence to carry the class. TAt the end of the day, Pout-Pout gets a sweet drawing from his new student and a warm reception from his new students. What a way to start a school year!

Pout-Pout Fish: Back to School is a Pout-Pout Fish story by Wes Adams and illustrator Isidre Monés. I admit I miss the rhyme scheme and repetition that Deborah Diesen traditionally uses, but the emphasis on kindness present in Pout-Pout Fish stories is here. Isidre Monés uses calming blues for Pout-Pout and bright primary colors for the classroom, all of which will appeal to readers. And there are stickers at the end of the book, making this a great back-to-school gift for kids (and if you’re putting this on your library shelves, hold onto those stickers, or your books won’t last the day – hand them out to your kiddos as welcome back gifts).

The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean, by Deborah Diesen/Illustrated by Dan Hanna, $17.99, ISBN: 9780374309343

Ages 3-6

Pout-Pout and friends are cleaning up the ocean! Mr. Fish and his friends love the ocean’s beauty, but when he looks around and sees a giant mess, he and his friends investigate and find out that THEY are the cause of the mess! That simply won’t do, so the group team up to clean up in this rhyming story by original writer and illustrator Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna.

Kids (and grownups) familiar with Pout-Pout stories will fall right into the rhyme and repetition of the story. There’s always a phrase or two that sets the plot moving; here, it’s “There’s a problem that needs solving/And we don’t know what to do/But we’re going to find some answers/Would you like to join us, too?” Old boxes of junk, food waste, plastic bags, all of it has to go, because it’s “a big… BIG.. MESS!” The friends come together to pitch in and clean up; even sorting their recyclables from their garbage. Once they’ve cleaned the ocean floor, they feel good about themselves, and extend the invitation to the reader to join them! An author and illustrator note encourages readers to clean up and protect the ocean, encouraging everyone to take action and learn more. It’s a great way to introduce conservation to kids.

The Pout-Pout website has lots of printable activities, and the website is way too much fun! (There are floating bubbles and fish!)

Animal Fiction, Preschool Reads

Blog Tour: The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish!

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen/Illustrated by Dan Hanna (Sept. 2015, Macmillan), $16.99, ISBN: 9780374355494

Recommended for ages 3-7

The grumpiest fish in the sea is back, and this time, he’s stressed out over holiday shopping. He’s so worried about finding the perfect gifts for all of his friends, that he’s missing the whole point of the h0liday season – it’s the thought that counts, after all! He learns that making handmade gifts that speak from the heart are the best gifts of all – a valuable lesson for kids and adults alike.

The kids in my library LOVE Pout-Pout Fish. When I first got here, there were two board books of the original story that were worn to the point of falling apart (they’ve been replaced). I can’t wait to bring this story out as the holiday storytimes get a little closer (I have to do Thanksgiving, after all!), with a fun craft afterwards that will show the kids how delighted their parents are with their own handmade gifts.

The book is written in rhyme, perfect for young audiences to follow along. Pout-Pout’s initial refrain about gift-giving: “A gift should be big, and a gift should be bright, and a gift should be perfect—guaranteed to bring delight! And a gift should have meaning, plus a bit of bling-zing, so I’ll shop till I drop for each just-right thing.” will resonate with grownups who work themselves into a state each and every holiday, and maybe give them the message to slow the heck down and enjoy the season.

How happy are we when our kids give us a handprint on a piece of construction paper, or a tissue paper flower? It’s a gift made for us, with love. And it goes beyond that – look at the success of Etsy, the site where crafters sell their handmade stuff. We want that personal touch, that connection. I knit for my friends and family, and the time and love that goes into my gifts means that anyone who gets something handknit from me is pretty amazing in my life. It’s a message that we seem to inch away from a little more every year; maybe the Pout-Pout Fish will help bring us back to that all-important message this holiday season.

Dan Hanna’s art is absolutely adorable. Pout-Pout has a big, gloomy pout as he rushes around trying to make everyone happy – but himself. Paired with Deborah Diesen’s rhyming text, kids will giggle and engage with this book right away. My toddler loved it!

Add The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish to your holiday libraries and get your winter crafts ready. But wait – you can also enter this Rafflecopter giveaway //widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js for a chance to win your own copy!

INTERVIEWS WITH THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR!

Deborah Diesen, Author

Since the first book, we’ve seen Mr. Fish go to school, learn to smile, face the dark, discover how to dream and play hide-and-seek. What do kids (and their parents) love most about the series?

I think one of the things that makes Mr. Fish an appealing character for many kids and parents is that kids and parents alike can identify with his experiences. Toddlers sometimes pout; so do adults! Preschoolers have things they’re scared of; so do adults! Kindergarteners get nervous about starting something new; so do adults! Mr. Fish’s experiences provide a way for kids and grown-ups to explore those issues together. In addition, the stories have rhyme, repetition, and wordplay, which are fun in a read-aloud book. And Dan Hanna’s illustrations! They’re fantastic. They truly bring the stories to life.

What do you hope young readers (ages 3-6) will learn from The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish? Is there a message here for grown-ups as well?
I hope that Mr. Fish’s latest tale will help children to realize that presents don’t need to be expensive or complicated or splashy. Simple, heartfelt presents that connect us to one another are the best gifts of all. A drawing; a craft project; time spent together; even just a smile! These sorts of gifts are the most cherished and the most enduring. It’s a lesson we grown-ups have to re-learn periodically as well.

Do you have any tips for parents of toddlers about the joy of giving presents, rather than just receiving them, this holiday season?
Kids love to give presents, and they especially love having an active role in the process of creating the presents. Try a craft idea or project that’s extremely simple and stress-free, and then let your child have at it with a minimum of help. The more messy, lopsided, and imperfect the results the better! Have fun with the process, and as you do you’ll create not just gifts but memories as well.

Dan Hanna, Illustrator

The items in the shop and the gifts Mr. Fish imagines in this story are so detailed and quirky. How did you come up with them? Did you have a specific inspiration?

For the imagined gifts, I drew on my own experience as a kid where I would dream up magnificent presents for my family and friends. Eventually, as with Mr. Fish, I would have to confront reality and drastically scale back my plans.

The shop items are based on all the goofy stuff you can find on the shelves of some of the more interesting gift shops.

Of all the items that the Pout-Pout fish dreams up (robot, spaceship, submarine etc.), which one would you love to get this Christmas?

The Submarine! When I was a kid there was an ad in the back of a comic book for a submarine. The ad went something like this: “Deluxe Submarine! Life Size! Torpedo Tubes! Absolutely NO Cardboard Parts! Only $10!!

I saved up the money and sent away for it. As I waited for it to be delivered my dreams were filled with visions of underwater adventure. Eventually it arrived and sank my dreams into the abyss. It was just a cardboard box with torpedo tubes made from toilet roll tubes. It was even more depressing than the Sea Monkeys and X-Ray Glasses.

What do you think was your most valuable childhood experience?
Being bored. I firmly believe that having enough free time to sit around and be bored is very important for the development of a healthy imagination.

What do you want the students to get out of your school visits?
That being a writer or illustrator is like being a wizard. Your magic wand is a pencil. Your potions are words and scribbles. And the spells you cast will be the stories you write and the pictures you draw. So pick up a pencil and make some magic happen!

THE NOT VERY MERRY POUT POUT FISH BLOG TOUR

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Mymcbooks Blog mymcbooks.wordpress.com

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