Gene Luen Yang may be the new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature but the 2016 Ambassador to Young People’s Science and Nature books is unquestionably the blobfish. No child looking at a blobfish can fail to assume that he has feelings, and that those feelings have been hurt. Whether headlining Jess Keating’s excellent new “pink is for everyone” themed Pink Is for Blobfish (Knopf, Feb.), or helping narrate Jessica Olien’s delightful The Blobfish Book (Harper, May), the blobfish clearly is the perfect ambassador to engage both children’s empathy and their interest in science.
When we got ready to shelve Pink Is for Blobfish on Tuesday, an idea for a contest combining a great nonfiction story hour with a fun Valentine’s Day themed writing project occurred to me. Here it is.
Our elementary school library partners loved the idea and the contest is underway. Personally I can’t wait to see the delighted look on blobfish’s face as he reads his Valentines.¹ I’m sure he’ll want to share them after the holiday.
¹He does read Shelftalker comments if you want to leave him a Valentine!
Roses are red,
Blobfish is pink.
I love you Blobfish,
No matter what anyone thinks!
PW tries its hand:
Roses are red
Violets, incredible
You sure are ugly
But at least you’re edible.
Hilarious! I am minded of this exchange from The Scarlet Pimpernel
Prince of Wales: Why, damn me, Percy, you’re brainless, spineless, useless: But you do know clothes!
Percy: Well your highness, that is something!
Blobfish, you have an unfortunate name
But I love you with all of my heart just the same
Blobfish, you have an unfortunate face
Still, raise up your fins and receive my embrace
Blobfish, you have an adorable pout
I place tiny kisses on your blobby snout
Blobfish, I love you, please say you’ll be mine
Blobfish, won’t you be my Valentine?
Your affection my looks do not retard
Oh Karin how I love your Valentine card
the ardor of our hearts entwine
I will be your blobby Valentine
<3
How can I check to see if this contest is happening in the Upper Canada District Schoolboard? I’d love to help promote Jess’s new book in our area. Her other books have been a hit here and we’ve been patiently waiting for this latest one.
Hi Pam,
I made up the contest this Tuesday, and as far as I know it is only running here in central Maine. I would suggest networking with your local folks to bring the blobfish love to your local schools.
The actual contest is for schools who submit, not the entries found here?
The contest has developed into two categories Christine, School and Shelftalker. There will be prizes for both categories. Blobfish insisted on this point.
My dearest Blobby,
Floating along by the deep sea floor
With no care to spare for those up on shore
You’re pink and gelatinous, on crustaceans you dine
Wish you lived on the land so that you could be mine!
Love, Sarah.
How I wish those undersea cares I could lose
For if I squelched up on shore it is you I would choose
Oh dear dear blobfish
I have but one blob wish.
To be your own blob dish…
And have eternal blob blisshhh.
Oh Dear Bina it is to you that I aspire
And eternal blisshhh all that I require
With your eyes of inky-ink
And your skin of pinky-pink
Blobfish you know it’s true
Yes, indeed I love you!
As a blob, you huggable
Making you so loveable
Say you’ll by mine
My sweet valentine!
Correcting my typos from the previous submission!
With your eyes of inky-ink
And your skin of pinky-pink
Blobfish you know it’s true
Yes, indeed I love you!
As a blob, you’re huggable
Making you so lovable
Say you’ll by mine
My sweet valentine!
With your grammar now corrected
My attention is directed
To your sentiments so divine
I will be your Valentine!
Congratulations on your victory!
It’s okay, you don’t have to make a speech.
I would still love you even if you hadn’t won.
Pingback: Blobfish Love! – Jess Keating
Hi,
I have a group of 5th graders working on Genius Hour projects and one of them is studying the blobfish. He has used Jess Keating’s book. He and his group each wrote valentines for the blobfish so there will be several “comments” from Pollard School. I will use my email account.
Thanks — this is an awesome idea!
Pat Collins, LMS
Pollard School
Plaistow, NH
Blobfish, Blobfish You’re the jello of the sea,
I love the way you float so gracefully at the bottom of the sea.
You are the pinkest thing I have ever seen ,
so be my valentine . I love you and you can love me!
Hannah – Grade 5 Pollard School
To the blobfish:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
You’re a pink animal like other animals, too!
Even though you may look different,
your beautiful inside.
So on this very day, say you’ll be my valentine!
Blobfish, you are pinky
and never ever stinky.
You live in the deep blue
and I love you!
Rose are pink,
Violets are blue,
Pink is for you,
and I LOVE YOU!
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I love you.
Be my valentine,
and I’ll kiss you.
Pinky, Pinky I Love You,
Pinky, Pinky You are cute!
Pinky, Pinky I’ll kiss you!
The water is blue,
but you stick out
because your pinky ‘Cordon Bleu’!
Blobfish Valentine
1 2 3 4 5
Once I caught a fish alive
6 7 8 9 10
Then I let it go again.
Why did I let it go again?
Because it bit my finger.
What finger did it bite?
This little one on the right!
I wish I never let you go.
Be my Valentine…
And I will kiss you so.
Dear Ms. Collins’ class now let me relate
How happy your cards made me, I feel like a gate
Thrown open by your kind thoughts and warm wishes
Oh truly I am the blobbiest and luckiest of fishes