Cheer Up, Blobfish!

By Julie Murphy and Rachel Tribout (Affirm Press, 2024)

It’s the Festival of Fish – the biggest party of the year! Everyone seems to be having a great time … except for Blobfish. The clownfish tells some funny gags, the sawfish does magic tricks and the dolphin swims loop-the-loops, but no-one can make Blobfish happy.

Or can they?

Featuring energetic rhyme, joyful illustrations and some fascinating blobfish facts, Cheer Up, Blobfish! is a celebration of difference that stars one VERY misunderstood sea creature.

Free classroom activities for this book are available on Sue Warren’s blog.

Reviews

“This fun, rhyming adventure balances elements of fiction and facts and will appeal to curious young minds.”— Books+Publishing, 2024

“Blending science, rhyming text, and vibrant illustrations, this new release reminds us of the power of being understood.” – My Picture Book Heart (Gemma Patience), 2024

“Gloriously lyrical text … combined with utterly bright and charming illustrations … effortlessly lift the spirits of any reader.” – Just Write For Kids Australia (Romi Sharp), 2024

4.5 stars – Good Reading magazine, 2024

“…a great conversation starter about body language and how some children may show their enjoyment in different ways.” – Love Four Reading, 2024

“…fun, bright and educational…the rhyming text is a delight to read…” – Storylinks, 2024

“A little-known sea creature fact underlines the importance of not making assumptions based on physical appearance” – The Daily Telegraph, 2024

I trained as a zoologist and zookeeper, and have been a children’s book author and presenter for over twenty years. Why do I write? Because it’s fun! What do I write about? Mostly my main interests – animals and the environment.

Meet Julie Murphy