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I recall my teacher having us make our own Rainbow fish, it's an adorable book and doesn't get the recognition that it deserves. I read this book in third grade. The vivid colors and sparkles brought me in and awed me.
It reminds me of the Kurt Vonnegut story in which the ballerina had to wear weights on her ankles so she wouldn't be better than everyone else and soar above them and the great athlete had to somehow lesson herself to keep all things equal. We all have gifts that make us unique and wonderful.
I am teaching the "sharing" lesson and it just bugs me to do it. She should be applauded and learn how to appreciate everyone else's gifts as equal to her own instead of destroying what she is and has.
I am teaching this story to my first and second grade theatre students as it is part of the curriculum. Why must she lessen her beauty to be happy.
We should share but we don't have to share what makes us unique. But I am so bothered by its message I am finding it tough to do.
Why can't the Rainbow Fish be utterly beautiful and still have friends.
Now, does the wise Octopus tell him to be kind to others and they will like him for who he is. The book had possibilities. It's strange such a simple children's book would awake such vehement feelings, but this story is wrong on so many levels it's hard to know where to start. We see him at the beginning refusing to share his sparkly scales with a smaller fish, and subsequently all the other fish refuse to play with him. You get the idea. But instead it's a poorly done "sharing" story where the hero doesn't share his things, he has to rip off pieces of himself until he's someone else. Mr. Yes, Rainbow is going to buy himself some friends.The little fish arrives right on cue, and Rainbow hands out a scale.
Here are some possibilities:* It doesn't matter how obnoxious you are, if you give away fancy presents people will like you. I'm pleased to see all the negative reviews because I hate this book. No. Soon every other fish is clamoring for scales, and he doles them out until everyone has one, everyone is the same, and now they can happily play together. He's also vain and rude. He tells him he must give away all his sparkly scales. Does he tell him to recognize the beauty in the other fish and curb his vanity. I really, really HATE this book.
I don't want my kids to have the idea that friendships are solely based on things, or to think they have to change to be who other people want them to be - the Rainbow fish is no longer a Rainbow Fish at the end of the book, he's just like everyone else. It could have been a lesson on standing up to bullies. * If you are more attractive than the people around you, they will not like you. Now, let's pause for a moment and see what kind of message we really want to send to our children. Does he tell him to throw a really great party and invite everyone.
I would so much rather the Rainbow fish found new friends who liked him for who he was. It could have been a lesson in being kind. There are better choices. It could have been a lesson in diversity. I'm a parent and an educator and would never choose this book, despite the pretty watercolors and gimmicky prismatic sparkly scales.The Rainbow fish is a beautiful sparkly fish.
* You must be the same as people around you to enjoy their company* Don't even bother trying to make friends with someone who is different than you.* You should give things that are important to you away to people you don't know or they won't play with you.* People will not like you if you have things they want and won't give them to them.* I must change who I am for people to like me. NO. Rainbow is lonely, so he goes to the wise octopus for advise. No.
Shame on the publishers for publishing this book. After reading the reviews, I know that I am not the only one that believes this is a horrible book. This book teaches children that being different is a horrible thing to be.
My Grandson will love it as much as his Daddy did I really Love this book and it was in great condition.
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