When I lived in California, I was privileged to attend a variety of great workshops through SCBWI, the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  At the national conference, I met Santa Barbara illustrator Dan Hanna , through mutual friend Thalia Chaltas (Because I Am Furniture).  He's terrific, talented, and HILARIOUS.

His first picture book was The Pout-Pout Fish which is a clever and visually engaging story about a gloomy fish whose life is transformed by love.  Dan and the book's author, Deborah Diesen, have created all sorts of  related materials and lists of ideas for using the book in the classroom and engaging kids in many ways.  Dan's experience as an animator has resulted in some very funny video book trailers.

The awesome news of the day is that my favorite pouty fish is back in The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark, and Dan has some new book trailers to promote it.  Too funny.  Give yourself permission to smile and check out these videos!

Video 1 : Everyone's Talking
Video 2: The Deep
Video 3: What's It About (not cute little kittens!)


Image via MacMillan's site for Farrar, Straus, and Giroux