The Rainbow Fish Mini-Book [Hardcover]

Marcus Pfister (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

A glittering stocking stuffer that will add sparkle to any child's Christmas! Marcus Pfister's international bestseller has been specially packaged for holiday giving in an attractive mini-book edition. The book contains the complete text of the original hardcover edition along with the eye-catching holographic foil stamping that has captivated Rainbow Fish's millions of fans. ?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you read this very popular book just before bed, and the light is still on in the hallway, you can make the rainbow scales glitter on the page, and realize why the Rainbow Fish was so proud of his beautiful decoration. Sometimes, though, being too proud of outside beauty can blind a fish, or a child (or even, heaven forbid, a parent) to the beauty people hold inside. That's the lesson of this simple tale, imported from Switzerland. It's a useful one for future sneaker and designer clothing shoppers, for rainbow fish--and for quieter, plainer minnows, too. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

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 advice 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. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735812322
• ISBN-13: 978-0735812321
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (180 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,663,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Rainbow Fish, April 24, 2009

By 

Anna M. Ligtenberg "AnnaLovesBooks" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Rainbow Fish (Hardcover)

ISBN 1558580093 - It's a rare thing that I read a childrens' book knowing full well that there is an actual critical debate going on about it, but The Rainbow Fish is one of those. With that in mind, I'll begin with those parents. The message any child gets from a book that is read to them is more dependent upon you than the contents of the book. If you're going to be all freaked out by some wacky idea that this book teaches socialism, you're going to convey that to your child and you will do more harm than the book, all by itself, ever could - in that case, just pass up this book. No harm done to anyone. While I think you're crazy, I think you have the right to make that choice.

If, on the other hand, you can manage two things: to actually read the book and get the message (which isn't socialism/fascism/communism and isn't really sharing, either) and to understand that you are not 4 years old and your 4 year old doesn't think the way you do, then this book is worth picking up.

A beautiful, conceited fish lives in the deep part of the ocean. His scales sparkle and shine as he swims through the ocean - alone. The other fish attempt to befriend him, but he ignores them until one day when a small blue fish approaches him. The small blue fish tells the Rainbow Fish how beautiful his scales are, and asks for one of them. Horrified, the Rainbow Fish refuses and swims on, puzzling aloud over his loneliness. A crab directs him to an octopus, whose advice is simple: give away his scales to the other fish and he will be happy. After some thought, and a second request from the small blue fish, the Rainbow Fish takes the octopus's advice and finds friendship and happiness.

Let's face it - this book has a large number of 5-star and 1-star reviews for a reason. Here's my two cents on those reasons: One, look closely at reviews and you'll notice that many negative reviews are for the board book edition, which is truncated to suit the format. The book has already been translated from its original language (Swiss) and then it's edited to fit a smaller book - of course there is going to be missing information in that version. Two, adults are reading this book, assessing it by their own standards and forgetting that children see a very different story here. Adults see the scales as what they are in the real world: a part of the body of a living creature that doesn't talk. In this book, which isn't the real world (as evidenced by the talking fish), the scales are more comparable to clothing or jewelry - a possession, not a physical feature. Adults also seem to fail to see one glaring thing: while their eyes are on the "give away your possessions" issue, they forget the way the story starts. In the beginning, the Rainbow Fish is vain and lonely, concerned only with his scales and their beauty, certain that he should be liked for his beauty alone ("I really am beautiful. Why doesn't anybody like me?").

The idea that the message here is about sharing is easily proven false. The summary inside reads "The most beautiful fish in the entire ocean discovers the real value of personal beauty and friendship" - not a single word there about sharing. The message in this book is more about not letting your possessions possess you, about understanding that others won't like you just because you're pretty, and about recognizing that friendship isn't about someone else adoring you but about sharing something, even if all you share is play time (not necessarily possessions). For that alone, if those are messages that you're able to convey to your child, the book is worthy of the shelf space. Add in the lovely pastel illustrations (and the person saying this usually despises pastel illustrations) by Marcus Pfister with the scales that actually sparkle and you've got a winner. The worst I can say about the book is that, perhaps, something is lost in the translation by J. Alison James. Children will enjoy the story and be very happy that, in the end, the Rainbow Fish isn't alone anymore. If you like this one, be sure to catch up with the sparkly fish in Rainbow Fish Finds His Way.

- AnnaLovesBooks

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Also Surprised by Negative Reviews..., July 6, 2011

By 

K. Tipping - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rainbow Fish (Hardcover)

I am also surprised by the number of negative reviews. I just read this book and I only got a good feeling from it. The fish is disliked CLEARLY because she is being arrogant and mean, NOT because she is beautiful. The other fish don't want to have anything to do with him ONLY because she is mean. Yes, one fish asks to have one of the scales, but the fish only start alienating the Rainbow Fish when she answers, "You want one of my special scales? Who do you think you are? Get away from me!"

The Rainbow Fish then thinks, "I am beautiful - why doesn't anyone like me?"

As she gives away her scales, it helps her to become humble. It's not like children will start giving away limbs of their body to make friends. If you want to make an analogy, what if your little girl is being arrogant about how pretty her long hair is. People start to not like her because she is so haughty. So she cuts it off. TO HUMBLE HERSELF. She's not doing it to make people like her, she's doing it to change herself so she will be more likable. Being humble is a good thing.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's everyone's problem?!!, April 24, 2011

By 

ash555 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rainbow Fish (Hardcover)

When i was in kindergarden I remember opening and reading this book. Not only did the beaitful colors and illustrations captivate my young eyes, but it was a book that to this day have never forgotten about. im 21 now.

With that said, as my standpoint from a six year old would have it, there are certain messages that I know i did not get from this book.

I did NOT think that in order to get friends you have to give stuff away

I did NOT think that you have to bribe people to like you

I didnt see any signs of socialism etc... uhm probably because i was little? if your 6 year old understands massive politic issues then maybe they should be reading at a higher level..?

what I got from this book.. the magic that I got.. was that attitude is more important than appearance. Simple as that. The Rainbow fish started off like any stuck up, Im-the-most-attractive-so-im-entitled-to-be-liked being. The book was about the transformation in the fishes attitude, by the time the book was finished a 6 year old would get the message that maybe beauty & friendship is deeper that outer appearance?

gosh people are so annoying, making such a simple, beauitful message into something political.