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I'm Conflicted, but My Daughter Loves It Dec 21, 2008
My daughter has always loved this book, and it's beautiful illustrations are no doubt why. The moral of the story is that if you are greedy and selfish you will also be lonely (not unlike the message Scrooge learned one christmas eve). The author took it a bit too far, in my opinion, when all of the fish see Rainbow fish sharing with the little blue fish, and every fish swims over and demands a shiny scale. The Rainbow Fish gives away every scale but one, and is surrounded by fish that didn't want to play with him before he gave them a scale.
When I read this with my daughter, I always point out that the other fish are being greedy, too, and that it's not nice to play with someone only because they give you something. Rainbow fish should stand up for himself, he can share with his friends, but still keep some of his treasure, too. Talking about it doesn't change the ending, but I hope it gives my daughter something to think about. I have always wondered if something was lost in translation, or if it's my American point of view that changes the meaning of the story for me.
 Rainbow Fish - love it or hate it? Dec 15, 2008
I have used The Rainbow Fish in my junior high math classroom this year. While I realize that some people feel as though Rainbow Fish feels he must share his beautiful scales to be liked, he also experiences how great it feels when you share your "gifts" with others. As I explained to my students - we ALL have gifts - and we have hundreds of "choices" each day in which to use and share our gifts.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Forget those negative reviews! This is a nice book about sharing! Dec 10, 2008
This book has a nice message, and I am looking for further Rainbow Fish books. I was shocked to see the negative reviews so prominently displayed on Amazon. To those who think the Rainbow Fish is "giving away his identity, or that part of himself that is unique" you are missing the fact that this is a PARABLE, not to be taken literally. Obviously a fish cannot really take off and share scales. Folks, the story is a METAPHOR for sharing your desirable possessions with others. It is not suggesting that your child should rip out her pretty blue eyes and give them away. But guess what? Being pretty does NOT qualify you as a special and unique individual -- and that's exactly what this book teaches! Don't you all know that it's "what's inside that counts?"
Wonderful Classic! Dec 05, 2008
This book is one of my favorites to read to my preschoolers...it has lessons in it that are universal...how to get along...how to share...how to be a good friend...just to name a few. Highly recommended!!!!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
We love it Nov 09, 2008
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.
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based on 202 reviews
