In addition to Mr. Fish’s sadness, the other fish don’t understand his emotions and exclude him because of this. The jellyfish, squid, and octopus all complain that Mr. Fish mopes too much. Is it okay for the sea creatures to expect Mr. Fish to be happy when he is not? Is it okay for Mr. Fish to not feel happy? These types of questions delve further into the role of well-being and happiness in personal relationships. For Mr. Fish, the sea creatures attempt to prevent, correct, or mitigate his sadness and assume it is a generally undesirable trait to be sad. However, this approach isolates Mr. Fish, which presumably furthers his sadness. What would be a better path of action for the sea creatures to take? How can the sea creatures take better care of their friend? These questions can be used to open up a discussion regarding personal relationships hindered by the challenges facing a friend. Purpose and Meaningfulness

Wow, so... I don't even know how to articulate how much I hate the message of this book. I wouldn't let it near any child I cared about, unless they were too young to understand the words. And even then, I'd be hesitant because it portrays a fish being very sad and his so-called friends making him feel worse about it then a whole bunch of random kissing. Pouting are scavengers which feed on the seabed. They forage for any food source they can find with marine worms, shellfish and dead fish all making up their diet. [4] Due to their small size pouting are a source of prey for large species such as cod, bass and conger eels. In the second half of the book, Mr. Fish is kissed by the Silver Fish and transforms into a happy, kissing fish with the purpose of making everyone else feel better with one of his joyous kisses. This transformation, as a result of the kiss, seems to make his life much better. One of the thoughts that come to mind when reflecting on this transformation is whether Mr. Fish’s life is better because he is happy or because he now has a purpose in life. This book allows for a facilitated discussion and debate about happiness versus purpose. Is it important for the Pout-Pout fish to be happy, or is it more important that he now has a purpose? And what is the connection between the two? Can someone be happy without a purpose? Or have a purpose, but not be happy? And what does this poor, little fish's friends do? Exactly that! Something we should be teaching children to avoid doing is presented as if totally normal. Now, before you think I'm reading too much into this, let me assure you that not only is the glumness of his 'pouting' constantly referred to as a downer but I'm not just inferring his friends guilting and insulting him for it.

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Distribution: Found around most of the UK, although they are more common in the south and south west of the British Isles. After the Silver fish kisses the Pout-Pout fish, his life seems much better. Do you think it is because he’s feeling happy or because he has a new purpose in making others feel better by kissing them?

What does the Pout-Pout fish do after the Silver fish kisses him? Why might that make him feel better? Do you think the Silver fish should have asked the Pout-Pout fish before they kissed?After all his friends are done being mean to the pouting fish, a female fish comes along, doesn't say anything to him, and kisses him without asking before swimming away. All the sudden, he's no longer sad. See, now he decides to spread 'the cheery-cheeries' by kissing everyone else at random. And the final line of this book, presented as if the moral? To turn them around how, exactly? From being depressed into being an assaulter? Not a great way to turn things around, I'd say! Is it more important that he feels better or that he has this new purpose? What is the connection between the two? A little fish is sad. His friends bully him for it by telling him that his frown is unattractive and he's being a downer - that he should just smile and have hope instead. Then a female fish he's never met before comes along, kisses him, and swims away. Suddenly, he's happy and goes around kissing everyone he sees. The final line, presented as if the moral, is: "Sometimes a kiss is all it takes to turn things around."