Module 1: The Rainbow Fish

SLIS 5420 / Module 1 / January 14- 20

Book for this Module

Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Bibliography
Pfister, M. (1992). Rainbow fish (J. A. James Trans.). New York: North-South Books.

Summary:
The Rainbow Fish has sparking shimmering scales, he is the most beautiful fish in the sea. He is also proud and vain. Because of this he has few friends and is lonely. Rainbow Fish turns to a wise octopus to learn a valuable lesson about what is truly important in life.

Impressions:
Rainbow Fish from the onset is a beautifully illustrated book with a pink, purple, green, and blue color palette. Between the illustrations and Rainbow Fish's special foil scales, children will be drawn to Rainbow Fish immediately. The story itself is pretty simple and the translation seems a little clunky in places, but the pictures and words together create a total that is far greater than the sum of their individual parts.

Reviews:
School Library Journal
"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?"

Library Setting:
Storytime or Program
In a public library or even a kindergarten class I think that children would enjoy storytime with Rainbow Fish. Not only does the book reinforce a valuable message about sharing and giving, but the storytime's leader could also introduce a coloring or craft project focused on this message that also incoporates the watercolor technique or glittery scales of Rainbow Fish.

Review. (1992, Nov.). The Rainbow Fish [Review of the book The Rainbow Fish]. School Library Journal. Available from: http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|15193504|1329877&mc=USA
Image from: http://northsouth.com.p4.hostingprod.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/RainbowFishCvr.309101304_std.jpg