The Rainbow Fish

Concerned about the message of the book

I am always eager to find good books for my children - particularly ones that convey a positive message. Everything that I had heard about the Rainbow Fish indicated that it was such a story. Upon reading it, however, I was shocked and saddened by its message. The main character - a beautiful, colorful fish - is basically pressured by the other (more plain) fish into giving them his beautiful scales in order to be accepted by the group. While some consider the message to be one of sharing, I consider it to be one of jealousy and peer pressure. By the end of the story, I felt pity for the once-beautiful fish and questioned the other fishes' motives and self-esteem. Needless to say, I never read this story to my children and am frightened by the fact that leaders in our society (teachers, the media, etc.) actually consider it a positive tale.

4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

From a teacher point of view

I had never even heard of this book until my at-risk students shared it with me. These students HATE to read, and barely even pass their classes, yet they told me, "That is the only book I've ever read all the way through! I love that book." When I mentioned I had never heard of it, they immediately gave me a synopsis of the story. I was so impressed with their attitute toward the book, I bought my own copy for my son. Yes, I understand the negative point of view that many have of this book, but it is also a positive book of making friends. It makes for a great children's book. By the way, I teach high school students who didn't even pick up on the "communist" view of the book. They saw the superficial moral of how to make friends rather than some communist indoctrination.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

What are you trying to say?

I came across this book when i was trying to find a children's book for my College Class. My theme was underwater animals. I picked this book up because of the cover, and began to read the story. I was thinking what is the message of this book? You have to give what you have to others just to make friends? Nothing else came to mind, just why should you have to give your stuff to people for them to like you? I wouldn't recommend this book!

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

The Rainbow Fish, By Mark Pfister.

The Rainbow Fish, written and illustrated by Mark Pfister was one of my favorite books as a child. It is about a beautiful fish that makes friends by sharing his most valuable possession, which are his glittery scales. Pfister¿s illustrations attract the reader by the sparkling sliver scales on the rainbow fish on each colorful page. ¿What good were the dazzling, shimmering scales with no one to admire them?¿ The Rainbow Fish realized that he couldn¿t have any fun by himself, even if he was the most gorgeous fish in the entire ocean. Because of his feelings, he made every fish around him feel as special as he was by sharing his noticeable scales. These words inspire the reader to share their belongings with others to make them jovial. These words also tell the reader that it doesn¿t make a difference in how you look, it just matters who you are. This uplifting classic is recommended for all age.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Good lessons and beautiful illustrations!

I chose this book for my 3 year old granddaughter along with the actual fish toy for her visit to our home. She enjoyed it thoroughly and understood the concepts shared in the story: sharing with friends, resisting the need to be "better than", and having friends. My granddaughter likes to pretend "read" books after you have read them and I was delighted to hear her confirm the main concept of sharing in her own version of retelling the story. I love this little story and it's gorgeous colorful illustrations.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Socialism

This is a book promoting the Liberal idea of Socialism in the US under the guise of sharing. If you tweak the story ideas it is very easy to see. If the fish becomes the richest man in town and the town folk become the other fish it is clear. The richest man in town makes $500K a year and everybody thinks he is mean and a bully. So, he gives each person in town an equal share of his yearly salary. Now everybody in town walks around with same amount of yearly income. Putting this idea in a children's book is the track Socialist want to take because they know you indoctrinate then children early, it is easier to recruit them later. AVOID THIS BOOK!

2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

A Classic

I read this book when I was in elementary school, and I am now a freshman in college. As I remember EVERYONE in my classes loved the rainbow fish. I think that it's moral is quite clear, you should not conform to what everyone else wants or give up your identity just because people do not like it. Those of you saying that it's communist and just teaches children that they need to give things away to have friends need to look a little bit deeper, not just on the surface. Create a dialogue with your child about the book and what they think the moral is. It can teach them not only an important moral but how to think critically about literature and you get bonding time and a better understanding of how your child thinks.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Let's Start Teaching Marxism as well

The Rainbow Fish in the hands of the public school system is a very bad idea, let alone to buy it for your child. This book basically teaches communism. The premise that if you want to be liked by people, you must give away your possessions in order to be accepted.

2 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

It's really about buying friends.

This is not a book about sharing. But about how one fish is not accepted until he gives the other fish what they want, his beautiful scales. I have 2 young, very intelligent daughters and they are confused by the message. They want to know why the other fish did not try to get to know him and love him even though he didn't want to give away his scales.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Beautifully illustrated book but very poor message to send child

Beautifully illustrated book but very poor message to send children. Do we really want to tell our children that for others to like you that you should change yourself and give up something that makes you beautiful and unique. How about loving rainbow fish for the beautiful fish that he is and if the other jealous fish can't see past that and it is their loss.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Book....

The story was very cute....taught about the importance of sharing. The illustrations are very nice & colorful.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Love this colorful book!

My 4 year old daughter loves this book and we keep coming back to it. Will buy again for gifts

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful Story About Giving

A wonderful story about sharing. The colors, ocean setting, and glittering scales really engage my 2 1/2 year old son who enjoys this book!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a wonderful book

This is one of those wonderful books that you can read and reread. The illustrations are bright and colorful and the story is a classic. A must have!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fishy

An amazing children's book. Teaches a good lesson about beauty and unique-ness.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

See past the outside

I bought this book for my daughters and son eight years ago and was impressed by the message. The message I took away was that how one looks isn't as important as how one treats ones friends. All the other fish wanted was to play with Rainbow Fish. Rainbow Fish thought she was better than the others because of the way she looked and wouldn't play with them. It wasn't until Rainbow Fish looked beyond herself and helped the other fish feel good about themselfs that Rainbow Fish understood how to love herself.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Rainbow Fish

PFISTER, Marcus. The Rainbow Fish. North- South Books.1992 The Rainbow Fish, written by Marcus Pfister is an enjoyable, witty tale for all toddlers to enjoy. In the beginning of the story, Rainbow Fish faces a huge decision whether to give up his sparkly and reflective scales to his friends or to keep them for his own. All the other fish in the ocean want to be like Rainbow Fish. They would always yell, ¿Hey Rainbow Fish! Give me your scales.¿ As the story proceeds, Rainbow Fish learns one of the most important lessons in life and that is how to share. This book truly is a heart-warming sensation. The cover of the book is creatively drawn by Pfister as well. On the cover Rainbow fish shines. Toddlers will be as fascinated by the drawings as they will be by the plot. To make a child happy, go to your local bookstore before this tale swims away!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Questionable Moral

Pfister, Marcus. The Rainbow Fish. Illustrated by an anonymous artist. North-South Books 1992. I.S.B.N. 1-55858-009-3 The Rainbow Fish, written by Marcus Pfister, illustrated by an anonymous artist, and first printed in 1992, will fascinate young readers who are just beginning to read. With wonderful, colorful, and vivid pictures of both large and small fish, readers will be just as amazed by the illustrations and shiny scales as they will be by the plot. The book is about the tale of a selfish fish who will not give up any of his shiny scales to the others. Eventually the rainbow fish realizes that without relinquishing his beautiful scales, he will not have any friends. He finally does share his scales and lives happily with the other fish. The author was obviously trying to teach the concept of sharing, but in some children¿s eyes it could seem as if the best way to make friends is by buying them. Perhaps a parent should read the book before allowing their child to read it. Nevertheless it is a great book for any children beginning to read between the ages of 8-10, or it can be read aloud to younger kids who cannot yet read at this level.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enough about the Rainbow Fish already

The artistic value of this book far outweighs the moral value. I believe a child's interpretation of this book is a very simple one ... "Only, if I give away the very things that make me feel different and special will I be accepted by other children". The rainbow fish has an attitude problem that needs to be addressed without stripping him/her of his/her lovely scales. I find it discouraging to think that all the other fish have to have a shiney scale to welcome the rainbow fish into their "world". Once the rainbow fish decides to give the scales away, wouldn't it have been grand to have all the other fish respond "That's very kind of you to offer, but we want you to be our friend just the way you are. With or without shiney scales, it's what's inside that counts. We are all special in our own way." So, in my opinion, if sharing is what a reader wants to encourage their young children to do, there are too many other mixed messages in this book. Other books have encouraged sharing much clearer with equally fine artistic value.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

so pretty

so pretty