The Pout-Pout Fish Movie Storybook

by Deborah Diesen, Dan Hanna - illustrator

This program is read by actor Nina Oyama, voice of the energetic sea dragon, Pip, in the film The Pout-Pout Fish!

The Pout-Pout Fish is a glum, gloomy swimmer who doesn't quite fit in . . . But maybe he hasn't gone on the right adventure yet! Swim along with Mr. Fish as he discovers new places and meets new friends. Turns out being pouty isn't really his destiny. It's much easier to find the courage to be yourself with friends by your side.

The movie tie-in edition of the New York Times bestselling, blockbuster sensation The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna features new characters and many fin-tastic surprises.

Audible Audio

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Deborah Diesen is the author of The Pout-Pout Fish, a rhyming children's picture book illustrated by Dan Hanna and published by Farrar Straus Giroux. Her book The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered Baby Brigade was published by Tricycle Press. She lives in Michigan. Visit her web site at www.deborahdiesen.com and her blog at jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com

http://us.macmillan.com/author/debora...

Reviews

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight. Pout Pout and his new friend need to find the wish fish. The story is all about friendship, working together and helping one another. The narrator is absolutely amazing. Highly recommend if you enjoy uplifting, engaging stories.

I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soon to be a major motion picture, this delightful audiobook brings Mr. Fish’s newest adventure to life with gentle bubbles, swooshing waves, and cheerful chimes that make every moment feel magical.

The Pout-Pout Fish has always been a little glum and a little gloomy, but this movie tie‑in story reminds young listeners that sometimes all it takes is the right adventure—and the right friends—to discover who you truly are. With new characters, fresh surprises, and that classic Pout-Pout charm, this edition is a fin‑tastic companion to the upcoming film.

Australian actor Nina Oyama delivers a wonderfully calm, engaging narration. Her voice has a soothing quality that makes the ocean world feel real and inviting, and she brings just the right spark to each character. It’s the kind of performance little ones instantly connect with.

As a family who already loves the Pout-Pout Fish stories, this audiobook was an instant hit. My little ones were completely drawn in, giggling at the sound effects and soaking up every moment. We’re so excited for the movie, and this storybook feels like the perfect lead‑in. We can’t wait to have the print edition in hand so the kids can follow along as they listen.

If your family enjoys sweet adventures, gentle humor, and stories with a heartwarming message tucked inside, this one will be a joy to share. Expect fun, giggles, and a lovely reminder that being yourself is always the best kind of brave.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always have so much fun with children’s book audiobooks, largely because there’s a heavy inclusion of sound effects and music—honestly, I really think we ought to explore this more for all books in general. The Pout-Pout Fish Movie Storybook by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna, narrated by Nina Oyama wasn’t exactly what I expected. It ends up following our main fish along his journey of making friends, but isn’t actually heavily focused on any sort of emotion.

Honestly, I do think this is a reasonably fun route for the author to have taken and it’s certainly a fun story for your kiddo to listen to. As always, however, when I recommend a children’s book audio story, I highly recommend pairing it with the physical copy since you’ll likely miss out on a lot if you don’t have the colored illustrations there with you.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[QuirkyTofurkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Pout-Pout Fish book, and I enjoyed it even more than the first! The cast of characters is bigger and the adventures are larger (including a fun trip to the dolphin cove dance party). I think little ones will adore this story. The audiobook is, once again, entertaining and memorable.

There’s even a sweet message tucked beneath all the fun. While Pip and Pout-Pout hope a magic fish will fix their problems, they end up learning that the real magic isn’t in wishes at all, but in their neighbors and community. Together, they can accomplish big things (including rebuilding a house!).

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Deborah Diesen for this advanced audio copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Eileen]

The Pout-Pout Fish Movie Storybook is such a fun and cheerful listen that feels perfect for little kids. The story is bright, silly, and easy to follow, and it keeps that lovable, “can’t help but smile” feeling that fans of the Pout-Pout Fish already know and enjoy.

The narration makes the story even better, with playful voices that bring all the sea creatures to life. It’s the kind of audiobook that keeps kids engaged from start to finish without feeling too long or complicated. There are fun moments, gentle lessons, and lots of personality that make it really enjoyable for young listeners.

Overall, this is a sweet, happy story that’s great for car rides, bedtime, or quiet listening time. It’s a bubbly underwater adventure that leaves kids feeling cheerful and entertained.

[Little Bitts]

The Pout-Pout Fish Movie Storybook seems to try and hit the high points of the movie, while keeping the book short enough to hold young listener's attention. We meet Pip and the Pout-Pout fish and follow them on a journey to finding new homes after some they have some changes in life circumstances. The audio is about 10 minutes long, so short enough for younger kiddos, but I was also able to speed it up a bit. This would be a great continuation for those who have read other Pout-Pout-Pout books!

Thanks to Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.

[CoffeeLovinRi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I loved this audio storybook! The sound effects are so cute and really immerse you into the story. We love all of the Pout Pout Fish books so this was extra special to us. The narrator is amazing and you can really hear the emotion in her voice. I especially loved the water sounds. I feel like it’s something so subtle that really adds to the story. The music added was a fun and unexpected element. This is pretty short too which I think helps keep little one’s attentions. I definitely recommend this to family’s with littles even if they haven’t read any Pout Pout fish books before.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my review is going to be a little different because it seemed like there should have been a book that went along with it. I thought the sound effects and the narrator was spot on. It was engaging and vibrant. Hearing only the audio of the book I felt like the book would have add so much more to the experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and great narration for the intended audience (kids). Love the Pout Pout fish series and can’t wait to see it on the big screen with my son! Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance audio copy.

[Angelica Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick listen but my son loved being able to listen to a book and the extra sounds that came with it. This would be a highly recommend.

[Renee Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids will enjoy it but parents will probably tire of reading it over and over

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I initially didn't actually love this book. Comparing it to the original book, for the first couple pages, I was not impressed. However, I really like the ending and the message in it!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading challenge category - 2026 PopSugar: Less than 260 pages

I am glad that they updated this book. The original was very icky with a 'no consent before kissing' thing going on. This one focused more on working together and friendship, so hopefully for the benefit of viewers, that's what the movie will be too.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.