Module 1: The Rainbow Fish

Pfister, M. (1992). The rainbow fish. (J. Alison James, Trans.) New York, NY: North-South Books.

Summary

Rainbow Fish, as he is called by the other fish in the sea, has beautiful purple, blue, and green scales. What sets him apart, and what makes him more beautiful than the other fish are his glittery silver scales that sparkle in the water. The other fish envy him because of these silver scales, and one brave little blue fish asks him for one of his silver scales. Rainbow Fish quickly says no and swims away. Soon the other fish are ignoring Rainbow Fish, and he becomes lonely. He consults a wise octopus who tells him he will be happy again if he starts to give away his silver scales. At first, Rainbow Fish doesn't want to give away his beautiful silver scales, but as he begins to give them away, he realizes that the other fish are being nice to him again. In the end, he has one silver scale left and enjoys seeing the other fish swim around him, each with their own silver scales.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

This is a nice, succinct story about sharing and how we are happiest when we are giving to others. Young children will enjoy seeing and touching the silver scales on the page. I think a nice addition would be a bit of texture to the silver scales to create an extra element of sensory perception for young children. I don't think it will live as one of my favorite children's books, but I do believe the lesson of sharing it teaches is a good one. It also teaches that what we have is not as important as how we act and treat others. I found the story to be somewhat blah with nothing terribly engaging or compelling about it and no humor at all. It's not one that I would want to re-read over and over with children. However, I did like the watercolor illustrations that Pfister himself did. I found them very appropriate for life under the sea.

I liked the message of the story and enjoyed the illustrations, but overall, it's not worth another cup of tea for me.

Reviews

Children will be immediately drawn to this book that features an iridescent, metallic-looking main character whose ``scales were every shade of blue and green and purple, with sparkling silver scales among them.'' Adult suspicions of the gimmick overwhelming the story quickly fade as the plot unfolds: none of the other fish will have anything to do with the Rainbow Fish, who always swims by superciliously and refuses to give away any of his special garb. He is lonely and without admirers until a wise female octopus advises him to give away his scales. Rainbow Fish then discovers that sharing brings happiness and acceptance. The delicate watercolors of underwater scenes are a perfect foil to the glittering scales that eventually form a part of each fish's exterior. This is certainly a story written to convey a message, but in its simplicity, it recalls the best of Lionni. Besides, what three-year-old doesn't need reinforcement about sharing?--Ellen Fader, School Library Journal, November, 1992.

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 advise 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.--Publishers Weekly, November, 1992.

In The Library

This is an excellent book for any discussion of sharing. Young children can understand that when Rainbow Fish didn't share his scales, he didn't have any friends and was sad. When he did share his scales, he did have friends and was happy again. An easy discussion starter would be, "Rainbow Fish shared his scales. What can we share?" I would probably make some scales out of silver paper and have each child write something he/she can share, whether it's at home, at school, on the playground, etc. Each child could then post his/her scale on a board with a water background.

The topic of sharing can be expanded to any type of charitable act. For example, with the recent tragedy in Haiti, young children can see the importance of helping people in need by giving what they can. It's a simplistic way to explain charity and the fact that we feel better in tragic situations when we give and do what we can.