Book Birthday Blog with Deb Pilutti

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Deb Pilutti on the release of Fish Don't Go to School

 

 

Clever title! How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I was having fun drawing kids in different animal costumes in my sketchbook and made a sample piece of art that had a boy in a fish costume. I really liked the image and wanted to keep painting him. 

 

 

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

I want kids to have a fun time reading and laugh at the silliness of Henry wearing a fish costume. Maybe they’ll think about what they’d like to wear on the first day of school, or what favorite items they would tuck away in a secret pocket, or what they do if they feel like they need a hug, but my main goal is always to create a story that feels true to the characters that inhabit it. 

 

 

What was the most difficult part of writing and illustrating this book?  

Usually, the story comes first for me, but this time, all I had was the character to start with. Well, really, I had two characters—Henry and the fish costume! The costume became a character who didn’t always react in the same way as Henry. I needed to find a scenario where a boy wearing a fish costume felt natural. I also needed to find the heart of the story.  I wrote a few different versions before I found something that I thought worked.

 

 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it? 

Christy Ottaviano Books/Little Brown handles marketing, but I’ll post on Instagram and Facebook. The book will be available at bookstores and online.

What's next for you? 

MY BEST FRIEND IS A LION is coming out in early 2026 with Penguin/Putnum.

More about the book . . . 

Henry loves the way he feels in his sparkly fish costume. He wears it everywhere he goes: to the grocery store, at the dinner table, and even when taking his fish, Marigold, for a walk. On his first day of school, Henry is feeling anxious. He wishes he could take Marigold with him, but his mom says fish don’t go to school. That’s okay—Henry knows just what to wear to make himself feel braver. 

This heartwarming story follows Henry as he faces his fears and makes new friends, all while staying true to himself. 

Published by:  Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Little Brown Books for Young Readers

More about the author/illustrator . . .

Deb Pilutti writes and illustrates books for children with humor and candor. She feels lucky to have a job where reading, playing with toys and watching cartoons is considered “research.”

Deb lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her husband, Tom, and Australian Shepard, Tater.  

Instagram and bluesky @dpilutti

Facebook @Deb Folta Pilutti