Review by Booklist Review
In this frolicsome tale, a hyper-vigilant sardine, one of many in a school of sardines, learns a lesson from a jellyfish on how to relax. The fish narrator stands out from the sideways swirl of sardines with his huge circles for eyes, expressive eyebrow arcs, and worried mouth--and he's feverishly referring to the Sardine Safety Handbook he keeps close at fin. As he's reading from the handbook ("Rule One: Stick Together"), he swims right into the gaping mouth of a manta ray. This sets off a series of Finding Nemo--like perils as the sardine, cut off from the school, gets more and more panicked, until a jellyfish shows him how to relax, and the fish he thought were enemies turn out to be helpers. The luminous, mixed-media illustrations in saturated full color and an inviting cartoon style are filled with crowded sea life and comic details. Hilarious, with an underlying lesson that staying in the moment and being brave can help you if you're beset by a panic attack.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--An uptight, rule-following sardine learns to relax from a tranquil jellyfish. There are 19,000 safety rules for sardines: Never slow down; never talk to predators; always stick together. A particularly anxious sardine panics after being separated from the group. While searching for a place to hide, the sardine smacks into a serene jellyfish. "Your nervous swishy-swishy is crushing my zone of zen," reports the jellyfish, instructing the sardine how to relax and "just be jelly." But can "jelly vibes" save the sardine from hungry predators? A variety of digital, mixed-media sea creatures with comical facial expressions enliven the ocean scenes. The frantic movements of the sardine are nicely contrasted with the fluid, laid-back motions of the jellyfish. The dialogue text reads well with the illustrations and keeps the story moving swiftly. However, preschoolers may lose the finer points of the narrative in the comic-book paneled structure. Additionally, in typical comics style, dialogue is assigned by proximity within the illustration without textual context, making it difficult for a non-reading audience to distinguish who is speaking. VERDICT Though this is an optional purchase, it has a breezy drollery about finding inner peace and going with the flow--perhaps everyone could use a little jelly.--Richelle Rose, Kenton County P.L., KY
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