Ugly Fish by Karen Lareau - a 5 star picture book cautionary tale

Great illustrations, and a cautionary tale everyone sometimes needs to be reminded of, regardless of their age:  If you act like a jerk, someone is going to settle your hash sooner or later.

Now rest assured, Ms Lareau does not use language like 'jerk' anywhere in this book.  Instead it is about a pretty but greedy fish who did not want to share his home, despite repeated attempts to provide him with friends. When he finally comes around to the idea that it might be nice to have some company, his next friend isn't much interested in him.  She presents the tale in a way that both surprises and horrifies - through in many repeated presentations at story time kids love this story and understand it - they aren't scared or horrified.  Parents, and other adults, sometimes react in surprise and horror because the outcome is not saccharine, as most kids books.

First posted on Goodreads