By Dan Santat
A funny graphic novel about a little sea creature who sneaks into an elementary school to pass as a regular child, right as the whole town starts hunting a mysterious 'Beast.'
In the town of Barnacle Bay, a small creature crawls up out of the ocean looking for others like him. To blend in with people, he names himself Sashimi, sneaks into an elementary school, and does his best to pass as an ordinary student. The trouble is, the whole town is suddenly on the lookout for the Beast of Barnacle Bay, a creature that sounds an awful lot like Sashimi. With one new friend and the class goldfish on his side, he has to figure out how to keep his secret and stay out of trouble.
Dan Santat draws it, so every page is bright, expressive, and packed with sight gags, and the story runs on comedy rather than nerves, a little creature just trying to fit in without getting caught. That makes it a gentle, giggly first graphic novel for a child stepping up from picture books, short bursts of words in speech bubbles, a plot that keeps moving, and a lovable oddball at the center. If your child likes a secret and a silly hero, this is an easy yes, and there's already more of the series on the way.