Fiction/ Picture Book

Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author: Marcus Pfister



About the Author: Marcus Pfister is the author of the phenomenally successful Rainbow Fish series, as well as many other books for children. He has worked as a graphic artist, a sculptor, a painter, and a photographer as well as a children's book creator. Pfister lives with his family in Berne, Switzerland.

Age Level: preschool- 8

Synopsis: The Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean. After the Rainbow Fish is rude to a little blue fish one day, all of the other fish started to ignore him. The Rainbow fish gives up his pride and gives away all of his beautiful scales. The Rainbow fish later discovers the value of personal beauty and friendship.

Pre-Reading Activities: What does it mean to share? What does it mean to give? What does it mean to receive? The main idea of this book is to demonstrate the importance of giving and sharing. Discuss with the class how they feel when they share, give or receive something.

Post-Reading Activities: What happened in the beginning of the story? What happened in the middle? What happened in the end? How did the Rainbow Fish feel when he wouldn’t share his scales? Who did the Rainbow Fish get advice from? What did the octopus tell the Rainbow Fish? How did he feel when he shared his scales? Would you have shared your scales if you were the Rainbow Fish? After the reading the students will complete a handout. They will cut out a fish and in the middle of it they will finish the sentence that starts, “I am happy when….”. They will then be required to color, cut, and decorate their Rainbow Fish with aluminum foil to represent its shiny scales.

My Reflection: Once again, another one of my most favorite books! I love that this book touches on sharing, acceptance, friendship, selfishness, selflessness, tolerance, judgment, and I could keep going. I also think a lot of people over look the part where the rainbow fish goes to the octopus. It shows children that they can seek others for advice and that they need people to help them make the right choices sometimes. I think that this book shows what can happen when you are selfish and how you can feel and then and vice versa. I love the themes of beauty and friendship in this book!

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