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The Rainbow Fish Review
User Submitted The Rainbow Fish ReviewsNovember 9, 2008 We love it This is the original Rainbow Fish story which is a simple moral tale designed for very young children. The Rainbow Fish is beautiful, but arrogant and selfish. He has to learn that superficial qualities such as beauty and wealth cannot be valued over friendship and happiness. It is at best an oversimplification to say this is a book about sharing, and I cannot agree at all with the reviewers who claim it is about being forced to give up one's unique identity in order to fit in with the crowd. To me that is yet another case of people impressing adult attitudes and ideals on to a children's book and I'm sad to see so many people seem to have missed the point, which is not that the Rainbow Fish gives away his shining scales, but that he learns humility. This is a charming and classic children's book from my home continent and I'm proud to have it on my daughter's bookshelf. September 27, 2008 Classic This book is a classic! I remember having it read to me when I was an elementary school brat, and now it's great to read all over again. It's a great story with a great message and plenty of fun characters plus some gorgeous artwork. September 20, 2008 Sharing is Caring! I read this book when I was a kid and i still love it. It's all about how you shouldn't be proud and that sharing is caring (not to be cliche). SOme people think it's about socialism or that everyone should be the same. But it is just showing kids that being full of yourself is an undesirable trait. September 8, 2008 Lovely Book. I purchased this book as part of a shower gift. My daughter loved this book when she was little with all of the brightly colored, shiny fish. I could not find it in any store so I was happy to get it. August 20, 2008 Might as well educate your child in Russia or N Korea My best friend's wife is a third grade teacher, and she was given the book for use by a fellow teacher at her school. I picked up the book and read it while at their house to humor myself. Much to my suprise I ended up in a heated disucssion with my friend's wife. We life in a country with rights and freedoms not allowed throughout the world, and furthermore, we are a society that embraces capitalism and the right to property. The morals that this book teaches is an insult to American culture and values (not to mention capitalistic values). Reminds me of when one of my Aunt's children went to school on their first day (after my Aunt went out and spent way too much money buying expensive school supplies for my cousin) and came home crying saying that the teacher "stole all my school supplies." Turns out the teachers at that school CONFISCATE all children's school supplies and divide them evenly to be fair and make sure everyone has the same amount! Needless to say that after a phone call my cousin got all her belongings back. Andy, Atlanta, GA August 7, 2008 Wonderful book for children Whenever I choose a book for a child I buy the "The Rainbow fish" as it tells a inspiring story children can learn from and is beautifully illustrated. Marcus Pfister is a gifted childrens writer and has written other wonderful books. July 27, 2008 People read way too much into children's books!!! I have always loved this book and unlike most adults, I take it for what it is . . . a children's book! It's purpose is not to promote mediocrity but to show that happiness can come from treating others with kindness and not being prideful. This kind of story is no different than the fables and stories that our parents used to tell us. Apparently there are some parents these days who just don't want to teach their children any values. July 18, 2008 Gimmicky, but not horrible. Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish (North-South, 1992) It seems everyone in the world except me had heard of this book, which I have now been given to understand is a classic kids' picture book. So, not wanting to be left out (as usual), I grabbed a copy from the library and gave it a go. (How popular it is can be measured by how long I waited for this on hold-- close to six months.) And it's not bad, if a bit gimmicky (the little reflective bits on the pages, which seems a lot more like something someone in marketing came up with, rather than the author saying "hey, wouldn't this be cool?") and more than a bit heavy-handed (this is one case where my well-trod phrase "as subtle as a week-old dead haddock" is actually more apropos than usual). And, of course, the book's moral has been done eight hundred thousand times in kidlit, so if you prefer your kids getting the "sharing is caring" message in a more well-presented way, you've certainly no shortage of alternatives. But the shiny bits will probably hold your kids' attention, and it's an easy-to-follow story. Not bad. *** July 3, 2008 Its for babies and toddlers.... duh!!! Look people. We as adults would take offense to this book had it been written for US. But this book is for babies and toddlers. The sparkle fish scales are to get a babies attention and the whole moral to the story is for toddlers. See toddlers do not share, it is not that they are destined to be selfish or mean nor does it reflect any parenting skills. They are selfish and that is how they survive! This book it just a little story about sharing. I have a one, two, and three year old and that is one lesson we have to re-teach about every ten minutes. It is a cute book full of beautiful pictures and has a cute "KIDDIE MORAL". We are a religious household and we are always learning the way of God and always doing our best to stay on the path to righteousness, but when it comes to kids we must remember their complete innocence and simple values. As they get older if the book still holds up with three boys (not likely unless it was made of steal) we will explain that it is is a simple book for babies and that it is not our job as kids, teens, and adults to blend in, or stand out... our job is to follow the path that God has laid for us. So, please remember...... baby/toddler books are written for baby/toddlers! :) ps. I think it is so funny that people come out of the woodwork screaming disdain for this book yet I never hear any bible remarks to Harry Potter books which involve witchcraft, not that I have a problem with those books either. They are books that spark imagination and they are not real or true which we will one day explain to our children if they ever read or watch the series. June 16, 2008 Sets a Terrible Example for Your Children I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who was baffled as to why this book is a bestseller for children. I was given this book as a gift, and I threw it out after reading it, because when my children are older, I don't want them thinking they need to give away their coats or backpacks in order to win friends. That's the message this book conveys. It deserves zero stars, but that is not an option. For more The Rainbow Fish reviews click here.
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