One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

"Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head?" Such are the profound, philosophical queries posed in this well-loved classic by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel. While many rhymes in this couplet collection resemble sphinx-worthy riddles, Seuss's intention is clear: teach children to read in a way that is both entertaining and educational. It matters little that each wonderful vignette has nothing to do with the one that follows. (We move seamlessly from a one-humped Wump and Mister Gump to yellow pets called the Zeds with one hair upon their heads.) Children today will be as entranced by these ridiculous rhymes as they have been since the book's original publication in 1960--so amused and enchanted, in fact, they may not even notice they are learning to read! (Ages 4 to 8)

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Much more than an early learning book - Rated
On the surface One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, the third Beginner Book that Dr. Suss (Ted Geisel) wrote, might appear to be a book of merely counting, colours, opposites and other concepts. The book revolves around the motto of "funny things are everywhere", and the fish in different guises are but the welcome mat to this wild, weird world. The creatures and crazy situations in the book (Yink, Yop, Ying, Gack, Zans, etc) are designed to encourage readers to embrace the world in all its quirkiness and diversity, and there are small sentiments peppered throughout the book such as "These things are fun, and fun is good" and "If you wish to make a wish". This book may be plotless, but the theme of funny things and embracing the world help to anchor it and make it a Seuss masterpiece.

Great book but only an OK version - Rated
In my humble option Dr Seuss is a genius, and One Fish, Two Fish is wonderful book, beautifully illustrated and packed with wit, humour and invention. It is a fantastic book to read aloud to children and it is also a good book for children learning to read.

However, it should be noted that this is not the complete book; it is only an extract (this could be viewed as a good thing as some of the more complex tongue-twisters are not included). Also note the dimensions of the book; it is a very small book, only about the size of a CD case (although it is a high-quality board book).

It is a great book but there are better versions.

One Fish , Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish - Rated
I order it from Amazon for my daughter of three for her birthday.I red the positive comments and throught it is great for my daughter.I did not like it, very small and the pictures are not nice.Text..hmmm Maybe this book is very nice for toddlers but definately not for three years old.My mistake.My daughter did not like it.

Very Very Small.......... - Rated
Lovely story............but be aware that this is a very small book! I was expecting A4 size and it is about the size of a CD case!! I was a little disappointed.

Every day, from here to there, funny things are everywhere - Rated
You might think that "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" is a Dr. Seuss book about counting or colors (or counting and colors or even counting colors), but that would simply be the hook for something much larger. The thesis of this Beginner Book appears opposite the first page, where we are informed by a small creature with a giant mustache and a yellow star for a belly button that "From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere." If anything this Dr. Seuss book has bits and pieces from lots of other Dr. Seuss books. You have a series of opposite because fish are not only red and blue but old and new, you have Ned who does not like his bed, there is Yop who only likes to hop from finger top to finger top, and all sorts of strange looking animals. There is even a creature that looks like the Cat in the Hat except he is completely yellow, including his hat, has a polka dot bow tie, and eleven fingers.

Consequently, if "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" is one of the first Dr. Seuss books that a beginning reader begins reading they should go back and read it again after they have gone through the rest of the good doctor's books because they will then be better able to appreciate some of the familiar faces in this book. However, since this is not a book for early beginning readers, most kids will get to this one after they have covered the basic Dr. Seuss books and become well accustomed to his delightful volumes of rhymed absurdity. This particular book has been inspiring the imagination of beginning readers since 1960 and there is no reason for it to stop with that endeavor at this point in time.