Cheer Up, Blobfish! (Julie Murphy, illus Rachel Tribout, Affirm)

It’s time for The Festival of the Fish and everyone is excited, but the blobfish looks sad, and none of the sea creatures can cheer him up. This fun, rhyming adventure balances elements of fiction and facts and will appeal to curious young minds. With a background in zoology, author Julie Murphy (The Possum and the Migrating Moths) weaves a delightful tale featuring a cast of familiar animals, while also introducing readers to the fascinating world of sea life with fish species such as wrasse, perch and sturgeon. The narrative touches on feelings and themes of belonging and appearances, while the rhyming language makes it an enjoyable read-aloud book with rich vocabulary, alliteration, and counting elements that all enhance the storytelling. The thoughtful addition of a ‘The story behind the story’ section gives more background to the uniqueness of the blobfish and its habitat, and encourages further reading and research. Rachel Tribout’s vibrant illustrations add to the playfulness of the language and the underwater setting. The artwork brings the sea creatures to life on the page, and the emphasis on facial expressions enriches the story by providing more emotional depth to the characters. Children as young as two will enjoy Cheer Up, Blobfish! and it is a book that will grow with them.

Books+Publishing reviewer: M H Alessandrino is a Perth-based freelance writer and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews