Picture Book 14

Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author: Marcus Pfister

Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Genre: Modern Fantasy, Series

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Friendship, Sharing
Primary & Secondary Characters: The rainbow fish and his friends

Date of publication: 1992

Publishing Company: North-South Books New York

Summary: The Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the ocean. The rainbow fish is vain and all of the other fish are friendly to him from the beginning. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Fish acts like he is too good for them. His poor attitude leads to none of the other fish wanting to be his friend. He receives some helpful advice when he learns that he will be happier if he can give away some of his most prized possessions, his shiny scales.

In my classroom, I would begin a discussion by asking “How does it make you feel when someone acts like they are better than you?” “Is beauty only on the outside?” I would hope by asking these questions, it would lead to an open conversation with the students.