Rainbow Fish to the Rescue! (Hardcover)

by Marcus Pfister (Author) "A long way out in the deep blue sea there swam a school of fish..." (more)
Key Phrases: little striped fish, Rainbow Fish

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Rainbow Fish, that glittery piscine, is back, this time with another moral to impart. Readers will remember how he learned to share in the original tale (The Rainbow Fish), doling out his shimmering scales to all the have-nots, and this story finds him and his sparkling school of friends at play?but bent on excluding a little striped fish who wants to join in all their games. Rainbow Fish is a little ashamed, remembering as he does what it feels like to have no friends. So when a shark appears and imperils the dejected interloper, it's Rainbow Fish who leads the rescue mission. The main appeal of Pfister's books is not the stories but the pretty pictures?pastel watercolors peppered with holographic foil-stamp overlays that glimmer and gleam?and this new volume amply serves up more of same. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?When a little striped fish approaches the established school of fish, each of whom has one silver scale, and asks if he can play, he is turned away because he is not equipped to play "flash tag." Although Rainbow Fish remembers how it felt to be excluded, he does not come to the rescue until later when the school escapes a snapping shark's jaws, leaving the striped fish to fend for himself. Then Rainbow Fish spearheads the school's diversionary maneuvers and leads the smaller fish to safety. The next game is changed so that the new member of the group can join in. Pfister uses the same ocean-hued watercolors and foil-stamped scales that he used to illustrate Rainbow Fish (North-South, 1992). The faces of the fish reflect the emotions of the text, from derision to fear. The shark is appropriately fearsome. Although it is not mandatory to have read the earlier title first, it would be helpful in order to understand his recollection of his loneliness before he shared his scales and became one of the group. The gently implied themes of sharing and friendship in the first story are expanded here to include courage. Groups may be inspired to talk about befriending others, even if they are different, or about doing what is right, even if it is not popular.?Betty Teague, Blythe Elementary School, Greenville SC
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558584862
• ISBN-13: 978-1558584860
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #325,140 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A colorful and meaningful book about helping others, May 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rainbow Fish to the Rescue! (Board book)

How refreshing to find an artistically interesting book for children that is also accompanied by some valuable meaning! If you are going to spend money on books, they should not only be entertaining but might as well accomplish something at the same time. I appreciate the opportunity to use this medium to teach my children to care for the interests of others and to see life from others' perspective.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much More Valuable If Read After The Rainbow Fish, January 17, 2001

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This book is a superb sequel to the wonderful children's book, The Rainbow Fish. Although Rainbow Fish to the Rescue can be read as a stand-alone, the lesson from the book's moral is clearer if The Rainbow Fish is read first. The Rainbow Fish establishes the pleasures and benefits of sharing and belonging. It can leave a child feeling that there are no other issues. Rainbow Fish to the Rescue expands that vision to the idea of inclusiveness, rather than forming and maintaining cliques. You will also enjoy seeing the spectacular foil highlights on the pages, as you did with The Rainbow Fish.

"Ever since Rainbow Fish had shared his scales [with the other fish], these fish had done everything together." "They played . . . ate . . . [and] even rested together."

"They were so happy together, they had no interest in other fish."

Their favorite game involved tag using the shiny scales that Rainbow Fish had shared as the "it" spot. When a little striped fish comes up and wants to play, some of the fish reject him because he doesn't have a scale like they do. In essence, they have become as vain and self-satisfied as the Rainbow Fish was at the beginning of the first book.

Although Rainbow Fish feels a twinge of sympathy for the little striped fish, he ultimately ignores the newcomer.

Suddenly, danger stalks the reef. The shiny scaled fish head for cover, leaving the little striped fish to his fate.

The book's resolution is full of good examples of how the many can change to accommodate the few without any serious harm or loss of fun to themselves. You can use this story to talk about the special issues of unpopular children and those who are new to the school. A helping hand in either direction is a great thing for a more popular child to provide. Many children would be willing to do that, but just either don't think of it or are not quite sure how to do it in terms of the group of friends the child has. With your helpful comments, those hurdles can quickly be overcome.

I suggest that after enjoying this book, you ask your child if anyone in her or his grade is ever left out like the little striped fish is here. Then, you could ask him or her what it probably feels like to be that child at those moments. From there, you can shift into how a helping hand of friendship can be usefully extended in an acceptable way.

May all be appreciated!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pfister Offers Engaging Texts and Fine Artwork, October 28, 2001

By A Customer

I appreciate Pfister's ability to write stories that challenge my 2 1/2 year old's comprehension of story structure and vocabulary while sticking to themes and plots that she can understand and enjoy.
This book might appeal to readers who want the Rainbow Fish's luscious illustrations and foil highlights, but disagree with the supposedly "conformist" or "socialist" thrust of the original. This book offers a message of inclusion with which most parents would agree. I like Rainbow Fish here and in the other titles.
(Of course, it's a little unrealistic that a shark would be scared away by a few little fish darting around its snout, but hey, this isn't natural history, it's a fable!)
It's a big hit with my child- I didn't give it 5 stars because as an adult, it seems a little bit cliche. But I'm sure she would give it a top rating!