The Rainbow Fish facts for kids
Original German cover
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| Author | Marcus Pfister |
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| Illustrator | Marcus Pfister |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Language | German English |
| Genre | Children's book (illustrated) |
| Publisher | NordSüd Verlag |
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Publication date
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1992 |
| ISBN | 978-3314015441 |
The Rainbow Fish is a very popular children's book. It was written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister. The book teaches an important lesson about sharing and not being selfish. It's famous for its main character, the Rainbow Fish. He has beautiful, shiny scales that sparkle. The story was first published in 1992. It was later turned into an animated TV show. This show aired on HBO Family and Teletoon from 1999 to 2000.
Contents
The Story of The Rainbow Fish
The main character is a fish called The Rainbow Fish. He has many colorful scales. Some are blue, green, purple, and pink. But his favorite scales are shiny and holographic. Other fish also have scales, but they are not shiny like his. They wish they had sparkling silver scales too.
One day, a small blue fish asks for one of the Rainbow Fish's shiny scales. The Rainbow Fish says no in a very rude way. The small blue fish then tells all the other fish what happened. Because of this, the other fish do not want to play with the Rainbow Fish anymore.
His only friend left is a starfish. The starfish tells him to ask the wise octopus for help. The Rainbow Fish goes to the octopus's cave. The octopus tells him that the ocean waves have already shared his story. She gives him advice: he must share his scales with the other fish. She says he might not be the most beautiful fish after that. But he will learn how to be truly happy. The Rainbow Fish says he cannot share his favorite scales. Then, the wise octopus disappears in a cloud of ink.
Later, he meets the little blue fish again. The Rainbow Fish decides to share one of his shiny scales. He sees how happy the little fish becomes. With that one scale gone, he feels much better. Soon, other fish come asking for scales. He shares one shiny silver scale with each of them. Before long, every fish in the ocean has one shiny scale. The Rainbow Fish also has one shiny scale left. He is finally happy, even with only one sparkling scale.
Important Lessons from The Rainbow Fish
The book teaches us about being kind and sharing. It shows that being selfish and only caring about yourself can make you lonely. A reviewer from Publishers Weekly called the book a "cautionary tale." This means it warns us about being selfish and too proud. The story helps kids understand that true happiness comes from giving to others.
Other Books in The Rainbow Fish Series
There are five more books that continue the adventures of the Rainbow Fish. Each book teaches a new lesson:
- Rainbow Fish to the Rescue: This story is about accepting new friends. It shows how to welcome others who are different.
- Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale: This book talks about arguments. It teaches how to solve disagreements peacefully.
- Rainbow Fish and the Sea Monster's Cave: This story explores fears. It helps us understand the difference between real and imagined fears.
- Rainbow Fish Finds his Way: With help from his friends, Rainbow Fish finds his way home. It shows the importance of friendship.
- Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea: This book is about being humble. It teaches us to be happy with what we have.
The Rainbow Fish TV Show
The Rainbow Fish story was made into an animated TV show in 1999. The TV show does not follow the book's exact story. Instead, it uses the characters and setting to create new adventures. Some new characters were added for the show. The fish in the series live in a place called Neptune Bay. This name comes from Neptune, the god of the sea. The fish even go to school, which is called "The School of Fish." There is also a shipwreck in the show called "Shipwreck Park." It looks a lot like the wreck of the RMS Titanic. The show was made by Decode Entertainment and EM.TV. A total of 26 episodes were produced.
