The Rainbow Fish

by Marcus Pfister

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The beautiful scales of the rainbow fish are sure to capture children’s attention. But be warned! Beauty does not always equate to friendliness. Children will learn the importance of friendship and generosity in this modern classic.

The award-winning book about a beautiful fish who finds friendship and happiness when he learns to share is now available in a board book edition for the youngest child.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781558585362
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	01/27/1999
Series:	Rainbow Fish Series
Edition description:	Translatio
Pages:	12
Sales rank:	716
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 6.20(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	Up to 2 Years

About the Author

Marcus Pfister was born in Bern, Switzerland. After studying at the Art School of Bern, he apprenticed as a graphic designer and worked in an advertising agency before becoming self-employed in 1984. His debut picture book, The Sleepy Owl, was published by NorthSouth Books in 1986, but his big breakthrough came six years later with The Rainbow Fish. Today Marcus has illustrated over fifty books, which have been translated into more than fifty languages and received countless international awards. He lives with his wife, Debora, and his children in Bern.

Editorial Reviews

Shining from Rainbow Fish's multicolored body are several shimmering silver scales. All the other fish in the ocean admire him and want to play, but Rainbow Fish is too proud to play with them; nor will he share his sparkling scales. Alone and friendless, Rainbow Fish soon learns that generosity is far more rewarding than vanity. Pfister makes novel use of rainbow-colored foil to create Rainbow Fish's scales.

Barnes & Noble Staff

The hologram-hued hero of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister will now glitter and shimmer in even younger hands, in a new board book edition. Also available in Spanish as El pez arco iris. (North-South, $9.95 ages 1-3 ISBN 1-55858-536-2, Spanish, -559-1, Mar.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 1-- Children will be immediately drawn to this book that features an iridescent, metallic-looking main character whose ``scales were every shade of blue and green and purple, with sparkling silver scales among them.'' Adult suspicions of the gimmick overwhelming the story quickly fade as the plot unfolds: none of the other fish will have anything to do with the Rainbow Fish, who always swims by superciliously and refuses to give away any of his special garb. He is lonely and without admirers until a wise female octopus advises him to give away his scales. Rainbow Fish then discovers that sharing brings happiness and acceptance. The delicate watercolors of underwater scenes are a perfect foil to the glittering scales that eventually form a part of each fish's exterior. This is certainly a story written to convey a message, but in its simplicity, it recalls the best of Lionni. Besides, what three-year-old doesn't need reinforcement about sharing? --Ellen Fader, Westport Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

This board book presents a bare-bones version of the original picture book story: the vain, lonely Rainbow Fish relinquishes his pride and gives away almost all his special, shiny scales to gain friends. About half the original watercolor paintings appear here, reduced in size and cropped to fit the more compact format. Children too young to sit through the original story will enjoy this version, complete with those irresistible, iridescent fish scales.

Carolyn Phelan