Published: 2026
Series: Sashimi
Author & Illustrator: Dan Santat
Genres: Humor, Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 1-3
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: Sashimi and the Field Trip of Doom
Triggers: None
Review By: Heather Turner
Publisher’s Summary
He’s funny. He’s (too) friendly. He’s… a fishboy named SASHIMI! Check out the second book in this uproarious graphic novel series from bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat. Sashimi is going on a field trip! Except he didn’t get his permission slip signed. And he accidentally boarded (and quickly got kicked off of) the wrong bus. Uh-oh… is Sashimi… missing? Sound the alarm! A child without a signed permission slip is on the loose! It’s only a matter of time before Sashimi is able to find his way home. But not before he stirs up a lot of trouble first! Perfect for fans of Bad Guys, Sharkdog, and The Investigator series! As Dav Pilkey (creator of Dog Man and Captain Underpants) says, “Sashimi is FRESH!” Don’t miss other books in the series: Book 1: Sashimi Book 3: Double Trouble
Review
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
The first Sashimi book was so much fun, so I was excited to jump into this second adventure. In fact, I had the opportunity to see Dan Santat speak this past June, and he was an absolute delight. His ability to connect with students is incredible, and he has a gift for creating books that kids simply have to pick up and dive into. Every time I see his name on a cover, I know I’m in for something creative, funny, and full of heart.
This second installment absolutely lives up to the first. Sashimi is still trying to keep the fact that he is secretly a fish hidden from the world, but an unsigned permission slip and one very unfortunate field trip bus mix-up send everything spiraling into hilarious chaos. From the moment Sashimi gets on the wrong bus, the story never really slows down, and I found myself laughing at the increasingly ridiculous situations he found himself in.
One of my favorite parts of this series continues to be the educational sidebars that Dan Santat sprinkles throughout the story. They are unexpected, informative, and fit naturally into the narrative without interrupting the pacing. It is such a clever way to sneak a little nonfiction into the story while keeping the adventure moving forward.
The artwork is bright, energetic, and packed with visual jokes. Santat fills every page with details that reward readers who take the time to really look at the illustrations. There is so much happening beyond the dialogue that I know students will enjoy rereading this one just to catch everything they missed the first time. I also appreciated that this volume continues the mystery introduced in the first book while expanding Sashimi’s world and setting up another exciting adventure.
Beyond all the silliness, there is a genuinely sweet story about friendship and acceptance. Sashimi’s friends are willing to go to great lengths to help him, and those quieter moments balance the nonstop humor perfectly.
This series reminds me why graphic novels are such an important part of school library collections. They hook readers, make them laugh, and keep them turning pages. Fans of Dog Man, The Bad Guys, and other humorous graphic novels are going to love Sashimi. I can already picture this one constantly checked out in a school library. I know I’ll be eagerly waiting to see what kind of chaos Dan Santat dreams up for Sashimi next.
Classroom & Curricular Connections
- ELA / Science: The educational sidebars integrated seamlessly throughout the story provide a creative blend of fiction and nonfiction, making it an excellent mentor text for teaching research concepts, cross-genre reading, and informational text features within a narrative format.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): Beneath the humorous chaos, the story offers strong SEL themes regarding belonging, self-acceptance, navigating mistakes, and the loyal support of friends when things go wrong.
- Informational: Pair this book with a “Sashimi’s Informational Sidebar” project. Following the read-aloud or independent reading time, students can create their own short graphic novel page featuring a fictional mishap alongside a real-world scientific or historical fact box, mimicking Dan Santat’s visual and educational layout.
- Diversity & Representation: The story supports inclusion and acceptance by validating unique identities and differences through the character of Sashimi, while highlighting supportive peer relationships that celebrate individuals for who they are.
Readalikes
- Dogman by Dav Pilkey
- The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
- InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
- Sharkdog by Davie Soskis
