I Need Pants!

PreS-Gr 2–In a premise that will surely delight children, Fish has decided that they need pants. When Octopus gently explains that Fish doesn’t have legs, making pants unnecessary, Fish thinks of other clothing they might need. Maybe Fish needs a tutu for ballet, slippers to keep warm at night, or ribbons in their hair. Each time, Octopus explains why those items aren’t needed. But when Fish finally gets a pair of pants, Octopus realizes that Fish may have been right all along. This silly and simple story features dialogue between Fish and Octopus that is engaging and clear, with directional lines that help young readers identify the speakers. The repetitive structure and easy sentences are easy for emerging readers to grasp, reinforcing the playful back-and-forth of Fish and Octopus’s conversation. Visually, the book features a mix of monochromatic backgrounds and ocean scenes; while charming, this approach may confuse literal-minded early readers, who might wonder why the ocean is suddenly pink or green. Nevertheless, with a funny setup and a repetitive structure, this would be a solid choice for shared reading or independent practice.