- Graphic Novels
- Ages 6–10
- Comedy
Sashimi
A fishboy from the ocean sneaks into an elementary school to blend in with humans, only to discover the whole town is hunting the mysterious Beast of Barnacle Bay, who sounds an awful lot like him. Dan Santat launches a funny, big-hearted new graphic novel series about finding where you belong.
- Best for6–10
- FormatGraphic
- Length160 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr15 min
Affiliate links — buy through these retailers and we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Silly
- Adventurous
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Something has come out of the sea and into the town of Barnacle Bay, looking for others like himself. His name is Sashimi, and to fit in among humans he disguises himself as a student and slips into the local elementary school. It goes about as well as you'd expect, until Sashimi realises the whole town is whipped up over the legendary Beast of Barnacle Bay, a creature that sounds suspiciously familiar. With the annual Beast hunt closing in, a sugar-fuelled disaster or two, and the school budget in chaos, Sashimi has to lean on an unlikely new friend and the class goldfish to keep his head above water. Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat brings his trademark warmth and slapstick to a laugh-out-loud graphic novel for newly independent readers, about the wobbly, hilarious business of working out who you are and where you fit.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A funny graphic novel pitched at 6-10s and ideal for newly independent readers, with plenty of pictures to carry the story. Younger children enjoy it read aloud or shared, and its gentle heart means even sensitive readers can dive in without worry.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 6–10
- Read aloud · 5–9
- Independent · 6–10
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Reluctant readers
- Funny graphic novels
- Fish out of water
- Starting school
Avoid if
- Wants quiet story
- Dislikes silly humour
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Watching Sashimi try to pass as a normal kid, dodge the town's Beast hunters, and recruit the class goldfish as backup is pure comic chaos. It's silly and fast and full of near-misses, and there's a warm secret at the heart of it: he just wants a friend and a place to belong.
- Secret skill
- Being understood finally
- Friendship and belonging
- Trickery and cleverness
Why parents love it
It's Dan Santat, so the jokes land and the artwork sings, but underneath the goldfish gags is a genuine story about acceptance and finding your people. Short chapters and heavy visual support make it a brilliant hook for readers just building stamina, and it stands up to endless re-reads.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
- Conversation starter
About the author & illustrator
Dan Santat.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
