In this hilarious picture book from the author of Giraffe Is Too Tall For This Book, a clever fish learns to outsmart their predators and wiggle their way out of tricky situations. This new instant favorite is a charming, unexpected, and hilarious adventure tale for readers ages 3-7.
Meet a determined, loveable fish who can’t seem to keep themself from getting in trouble! Here, Splish sets off on a quest for a delicious meal in their vibrant underwater world. Follow along as they flip, wiggle, and splash away from dangerous situations –both expected and unexpected—that lurk above and below the surface…
Kids ages 3-7 will cheer for this wily and resourceful fish in this action-packed picture book. Full of twists and turns and interactive elements, here’s a story that will entertain young readers seeking a title that will keep them on the edges of their seats.
A story like DK Ryland’s Splish is one that really becomes a favorite for that specific kid who finds it in the store or at the library and just really likes fish. It’ll be a nostalgic read for this kid as they grow older, one they’ll find later in life and remember how much they loved it—the fish is funny, the colors are engaging and beautiful, and the illustrations are cute. But this also isn’t the sort of children’s book that I’d pick up in the store and think, “oh, how great this would be for my kids, my students, or my niblings.”
Instead, it’s the kind of book I’d put back on the shelf and really only take home if a child I was shopping with insisted that they wanted it.
Basically, what this leads me to is that there’s nothing truly bad about Splish, but nothing about it really stands out to me as worthwhile. I don’t think it really teaches much, which is usually what I’m looking for with children’s books. There’s some entertainment value, but the same can be said for a lot of books that accomplish more of what I would want from a children’s book. The story simply follows the experience of a fish who spends nearly the entire book escaping dangerous situations where someone wants to eat him. It’s cute. But that’s about it.
So, for the kids in your life who just really, really love fish and might enjoy a small laugh—this could be a great one to pick up. Barring that, I’ll personally be grabbing something else.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Splish! by D.K. Ryland is a joyful, high-energy picture book that absolutely earns five stars. From the very first page, the playful, rhythmic text pulls readers into a world of water, movement, and pure fun. The sound words and lively pacing make it especially perfect for read-alouds—kids will love joining in with the “splish,” “splash,” and all the delightful noise along the way.
The illustrations are bright, expressive, and full of motion, perfectly matching the upbeat tone of the story. Each page feels dynamic and engaging, giving young readers plenty to look at while keeping the story moving at an exciting pace.
What really makes Splish! shine is its ability to turn a simple concept into an interactive experience. It encourages participation, imagination, and joy, making it a book children will want to revisit again and again.
Overall, Splish! is a vibrant, fun-filled read that brings energy and laughter to storytime—a fantastic addition to any picture book collection.
This book is such a delight from start to finish. Splish is clever, playful, and pure fun, the kind of story that instantly pulls kids in and keeps them laughing. It is perfect for reading aloud, with a rhythm and silliness that make kids giggle and want to hear it again right away.
The language is simple but smart, and the humor really lands with young listeners. You can tell it was written with children in mind, especially those moments when they love to shout, laugh, and join in. It feels like the kind of book that quickly becomes part of the bedtime routine or story time favorite stack.
This is absolutely one of those books kids ask for again and again. It is joyful, engaging, and just plain fun. A guaranteed hit for little readers and the grown ups reading along. Easily FIVE stars.
"Splish" is a silly, brightly colored children's book following the many misadventures of Splish, the fish. The text is simple yet smile induing and I can just imagine all the voice intonations you could use while reading it out loud. As a preschool teacher, I know my group of 4-year-olds would absolutely love that mischievous, little trick at the end. As for the illustrations, they were very bright and I noticed the human characters had very clear facial expressions which could create great discussions with children. I'm also a fan of artwork that involves turning the book vertically, it always brings a little fun to a book. All in all, this is a children's book I will be looking for to add to my classroom collection.
Thank you, Astra Publishing House, for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you so much to Astra Young Readers/ Astra Publishing House and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
This was utterly hilarious and so much fun to read. Following a fish called Splish, we don’t know what type of fish he is but we follow as he goes on a sea adventure.
I loved how perfectly the illustrations and the writing were tied, when Splish was doing a motion and how writing went round the illustrations, it captured it all so perfectly. I had a great time reading it, it was hilarious and so much fun and even had a few unexpected twists. But we still don’t know what type of fish Splish is. Young readers are going to be giggling reading this and having such a great fun time.
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m always on the lookout for new ocean books, and the cover is super cute. It’s about a little fish named Splish who keeps finding herself in trouble - caught by a fisherman, swallowed by a pelican, chased by a shark…but she always manages to find a way back to safety. The pictures are really bright and inviting, and I think this could work equally well with toddlers or preschoolers. The kids will have fun with the “zigs and zags and ziggety zags” repetitions, and there’s a cute twist at the end that the parents will also appreciate. [slow Friday = picture book reviewing marathon!]
What kind of fish is Splish? This book takes you through Splish’s adventures for the day and how he gets into and out of trouble. I liked the alliteration of the text. It makes it flow well. I admired how the author used the same beginning and ending text. The pictures are colorful, with Splish blending into his world. They foreshadow what is going to happen next. The mom in me is worried about the little boy with one of his legs hanging out of the boat (he might fall in.) I could see my students wondering about that too. It’s also not a necessary part of the book.
Recommended for PreK-1st grade. Good book to use as an example of alliteration, it has a fun story.
THE BOOK ASKS “WHAT KIND OF FISH IS SPLISH?” and then we learn that he is a fish that is ready for adventures!
What a day, first he gets hooked by a fisherman and manages to free himself, then a pelican snaps him! He keeps wiggling and flipping and gets released back into the water!
Splish has several more adventures before the day is done.
I think the graphics are cute and the story is funny. I think this would work best with a 4 or 5 year old that would understand that this is just a fairy tale and doesn’t occur in real life.
I received an ARC of this children’s book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
DK Ryland put together a delightful children's story. The dedication, in its brevity, grabbed me, so I interrupted my start to reading this to look her up on Instagram. Thus, when I returned, I believed two of her characters to be her husband and one of her sons, but I'm not sure. Anyway I love the memorable, "catchy" way she wrote this. It gets 5 stars from me because not only does Splish never get snatched up by anyone, but triumphs ironically and humorously at the end.
Thank you to Netgalley, the fabulous Astra Publishing House, and DK Ryland for the advanced digital copy for review.
Splish the fish goes looking for a meal, but has to escape predator after predator. In the end, the fish gets what it wants, and the book ends on a humorous note. This book will be fun for kids who especially like fish, or who enjoy chase stories. However, I didn't find this story especially funny or memorable, and sensitive kids may find the story troubling, since there's such a strong emphasis on Splish needing to evade predators.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
My daughter and I were laughing the whole way through.
We were scared at the shark then turned the page and giggled, we were yelling, and smiling throughout. With the large font, colourful illustrations, simple story this will definitely be a re-read for us. We finished the and we said what a silly story and giggled and had to read it again. Highly recommend for the little ones.
Splish is about a little fish on the move, who sometimes ends up in some dicey situations, but adapts to get through. The story includes lots of fun action words that little readers will enjoy. The illustrations are very cute and colorful. They show the action of the story very well. I would definitely recommend this for younger kiddos as a read aloud or for early readers.
Thanks to Astra Young Readers and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Splish by D.K. Ryland is a simple but cute little story that will keep young ones on their toes. Splish is an adorable little fish who gets into all sorts of misadventures as they look for a snack.
The illustrations are so cute and colorful, sure to keep any kid's eye. And the story will keep their attention as they hear about Splish's wriggly adventures.
My kids loved Splish! They had a great time watching this clever little fish find creative ways out of every tricky situation. The story is playful, funny, and kept them excited to see what would happen next.
The bright, engaging illustrations brought the underwater adventure to life and gave us plenty to look at on every page. Splish is a fun read-aloud that had my kids laughing and cheering along.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and thank you for giving me an opportunity to read this book!
Such an adorable story of a brave fish, Splish. Life brings us many challenges and unexpected situations. But Splish is ready for anything that life brings!
An awesome inspiration for young readers. Colorful and fun illustrations. A funny, silly, and thought-provoking read for any reader!
Thank you to Netgalley and Astra Publishing House for providing me with an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.
This was a funny book about a clever and resourceful fish. The fish gets captured by a fishhook, pelican, and nearly a shark, so it may be frightening for some younger readers. It was in a silly way, though. I do have to admit, I'd still like to know what actual kind of fish Splish is, though (if you've read the book, you'll understand.)...
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I loved this book! What kind of fish is splish? Splish is an every sort of fish! This book was really engaging and fun! I will definitely be buying my daughter a physical copy when it is released!
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I was laughing aloud at this. 😂😂 The illustrations were so charming, and the story went in a direction I was not expecting. This would make the perfect read aloud.
*A special thank you to Astra Publishing House and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.*
Splish is a really cute book about a clever, adventurous fish. I loved the fun story and the bright, engaging illustrations. Overall a great book and one I'm excited to share with my niece and nephews.
This was such a fun read-aloud and poor Splish just keeps getting into one pickle after another. We loved the ending and thought the illustrations were adorable. 5/5 stars from my kids!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Okay this book was actually ridiculously cute and made me smile/laugh. The graphics were also colorful and engaging. I would absolutely buy for my kiddo in a heartbeat.
Thank you to Astra Pub and NetGalley for the e-galley!