Module 1: The Rainbow Fish

Summary

The rainbow fish is the most beautiful fish in the ocean, but he is very stuck up and has no friends. Another fish asks the rainbow fish to share his scales, but he says no. Eventually, after getting advice from an octopus, the rainbow fish shares his scales with all the other fish, and gains them as friends.

Citation

Pfister, M. (2004). The rainbow fish. New York, NY: North-South Books.

Impression

I think this is a book to buy for its sparkly illustrations, not the story. The pictures are pretty watercolors, and the iridescent foil scales would, I'm sure, be captivating for little kids. The story is simple, and apparently quite controversial, as I learned when I scrolled through some Amazon reviews. While I'm certainly not of the "OMG! THE SOCIALISMS!" camp, I can see how the people who castigate this book for promoting conformity and anti-individualism got to their view. I don't really agree with it, but I can see where the got it.

Review


Despite some jazzy special effects achieved with shimmery holographs, this cautionary tale about selfishness and vanity has trouble staying afloat. Rainbow Fish, ``the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean,'' refuses to share his prized iridescent scales--which, indeed, flash and sparkle like prisms as each page is turned. When his greed leaves him without friends or admirers, the lonely fish seeks advice from the wise octopus, who counsels him to give away his beauty and ``discover how to be happy.'' The translation from the original German text doesn't enhance the story's predictable plot, and lapses into somewhat vague descriptions: after sharing a single scale, ``a rather peculiar feeling came over Rainbow Fish.'' Deep purples, blues and greens bleed together in Pfister's liquid watercolors; unfortunately, the watery effect is abruptly interrupted by a few stark white, text-only pages. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Children's Review. (1999, January 25).[Review of the book The Rainbow Fish]. Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-55858-009-1


Uses

This book could be part of a children's display about the senses, as it is very interesting visually. It could also be used to talk about sharing, or, as some people on the internet suggest, to teach children to sell their limbs in return for friends.