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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
¿Por qué el pez tiene que renunciar a ser tal como es para que los otros le acepten?
Este cuento definitivamente no se lo contaría a mis hijos.
Este cuento definitivamente no se lo contaría a mis hijos.
A great read around Valentines Day. Kindness is looking beyond yourself.
Recommended 3-7
Recommended 3-7
I'm appalled that this book has earned 4+ stars. I saw it on a list of "recommended" books, then saw its pretty cover at the library, and I thought, "My daughter will LOVE this!"
We got home, I opened it up with her, and I couldn't believe what I was reading! I'm all for sharing and not being rude (because the rainbow fish IS rude), but I am NOT for giving away what makes you special just because others are jealous and want from you what they don't have themselves. Really? We want to ENCOURAGE kids to submit to peer pressure?
I hid that book as much as possible before we returned it to the library, although my daughter LOVED the illustrations and always wanted me to read it to her. And I learned a valuable lesson that day: read the books myself first.
We got home, I opened it up with her, and I couldn't believe what I was reading! I'm all for sharing and not being rude (because the rainbow fish IS rude), but I am NOT for giving away what makes you special just because others are jealous and want from you what they don't have themselves. Really? We want to ENCOURAGE kids to submit to peer pressure?
I hid that book as much as possible before we returned it to the library, although my daughter LOVED the illustrations and always wanted me to read it to her. And I learned a valuable lesson that day: read the books myself first.
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beautifully written children’s book about acceptance and appreciating each other’s differences. The translation is also done well, capturing the heart of this well-known children’s story.
Special thanks to NorthSouth Books Inc, Ediciones NorteSur, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest, independent review.
Un cuento infantil bellamente escrito sobre la aceptación y la valoración de nuestras diferencias. Qué linda! La traducción también está bien, capturando el corazón de esta cuento.
I am all for teaching children to share and make friends, and I'm also all in favor of beautiful books about animals.
So I sat down to read this book to my infant son. And was horrified.
Here is the plot:
Rainbow Fish is lovely. He has lots of sparkly silver scales. None of the other fish have these silver scales. Rainbow Fish does not play with the other fish. But one day, a little blue fish asks Rainbow Fish for one of his shiny scales. Rainbow Fish, understandably thrown, says "NO, those are part of my body, and you can't have one." The little blue fish is sad. He tells all the other fish that Rainbow Fish won't GIVE HIM HIS SCALES and all the other fish start shunning Rainbow Fish (it is unclear why they weren't disgruntled that Rainbow Fish never talked to them in the first place but are now all in a snit). I think "This is awful! Rainbow Fish didn't feel comfortable with Little Blue Fish's request and now he's suffering social castigation for it." Rainbow Fish asks an octopus how to be happy, and the octopus wisely tells him she can't give him the secret to happiness. The little blue fish comes back. And here I think "Oh, good! He's going to apologize for such an intrusive request, All Will Be Well, and we will all have learned an important lesson about boundaries." But NO! Little Blue Fish REPEATS his request and goes so far as to DIMINISH the importance of it: He wants "Just one little scale." Rainbow Fish, lonely, hurt, and confused, gives in, RIPS A SCALE OFF HIS BODY, and gives it to the little fish. The little fish likes him now! Now that Rainbow Fish has done something he was uncomfortable with, everyone thinks he's great! Clearly, this was a fantastic idea, so he starts ripping scales off with abandon, giving one to ALL the fish! And now EVERYONE likes him! The way to be popular was to completely disregard his own comfort level, boundaries, and sense of ownership and security in his own body! THAT'S the secret to happiness! He does keep one small silver scale for himself, but otherwise he leads a much happier life now that he has given in to peer pressure.
That's not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good lesson for kids. I can see what the author was going for (sharing is good, generosity feels wonderful) but he chose a poor vehicle for that moral, and the result is a book I'm planning to drastically rewrite before sharing with my son again.
The pictures, and the scales, are lovely, so there is that.
So I sat down to read this book to my infant son. And was horrified.
Here is the plot:
Rainbow Fish is lovely. He has lots of sparkly silver scales. None of the other fish have these silver scales. Rainbow Fish does not play with the other fish. But one day, a little blue fish asks Rainbow Fish for one of his shiny scales. Rainbow Fish, understandably thrown, says "NO, those are part of my body, and you can't have one." The little blue fish is sad. He tells all the other fish that Rainbow Fish won't GIVE HIM HIS SCALES and all the other fish start shunning Rainbow Fish (it is unclear why they weren't disgruntled that Rainbow Fish never talked to them in the first place but are now all in a snit). I think "This is awful! Rainbow Fish didn't feel comfortable with Little Blue Fish's request and now he's suffering social castigation for it." Rainbow Fish asks an octopus how to be happy, and the octopus wisely tells him she can't give him the secret to happiness. The little blue fish comes back. And here I think "Oh, good! He's going to apologize for such an intrusive request, All Will Be Well, and we will all have learned an important lesson about boundaries." But NO! Little Blue Fish REPEATS his request and goes so far as to DIMINISH the importance of it: He wants "Just one little scale." Rainbow Fish, lonely, hurt, and confused, gives in, RIPS A SCALE OFF HIS BODY, and gives it to the little fish. The little fish likes him now! Now that Rainbow Fish has done something he was uncomfortable with, everyone thinks he's great! Clearly, this was a fantastic idea, so he starts ripping scales off with abandon, giving one to ALL the fish! And now EVERYONE likes him! The way to be popular was to completely disregard his own comfort level, boundaries, and sense of ownership and security in his own body! THAT'S the secret to happiness! He does keep one small silver scale for himself, but otherwise he leads a much happier life now that he has given in to peer pressure.
That's not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good lesson for kids. I can see what the author was going for (sharing is good, generosity feels wonderful) but he chose a poor vehicle for that moral, and the result is a book I'm planning to drastically rewrite before sharing with my son again.
The pictures, and the scales, are lovely, so there is that.
This was a beautiful use of materials. It also came close to communicating the value of sharing. Close…
I get that the author wanted the message of the book to be “sharing is caring” or whatever but it’s coming across as “we should dull ourselves to get along with others.” Like, why did rainbow fish have to give away his scales that were A PART OF HIS BODY so other fish felt better?? Like, I get that rainbow fish was a bit of a dick and just ignored everyone else but I don’t think giving away his scales was the solution here. Truthfully insane!
The art was cute though
The art was cute though
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes