The Rainbow Fish

**The Rainbow Fish** is a children's story picture book that was drawn and written by the Swiss author and illustrator, Marcus Pfister, and translated into English by J. Alison James. The story in the book is best known for its message about generosity, sharing, and friendship and for the distinctive shiny foil scales of the Rainbow Fish. It was also followed by eight sequels.

Decode Entertainment then turned the story into an animated television series of the same name, which aired on the HBO Family television channel in the United States and Teletoon in Canada from 1999 until 2000.

## Plot

The story is about a small rainbowfish with shiny, multi-coloured scales. He has blue, green, purple, and pink scales. Interspersed with these colorful scales are shiny, holographic scales which are his favorites. The other fish from his shoal also have scales, but only scales matching to their real colors. However, they wish that they had shiny silver scales just like Rainbow Fish. One day, a small blue fish who envied the shiny silver scales asks the Rainbow Fish if he could have one of his. The Rainbow Fish refuses in a rude manner. The small blue fish tells all the other fish that The Rainbow Fish was being rude, and as a result, the other fish do not want to play with him any more.

His only remaining friend, the starfish, tells him to go visit Wanda (a wise octopus) for advice. When he goes to the cave where she lives, he sees the octopus. She says that she has been waiting for him, and explains that the waves have told her his story. Then, she gives The Rainbow Fish her advice: He must share his scales with the other fish. She continues that he might no longer be the most beautiful fish after that, but he will discover how to be happy. The Rainbow Fish tries to say that he cannot share his favorite scales, but Wanda disappears in a cloud of ink.

When he encounters the little blue fish for a second time, The Rainbow Fish shares one of his precious silver scales and sees the little fish's joy. With that one shiny scale gone, he immediately feels much better. Very soon, the Rainbow Fish is surrounded by the other fish requesting scales and he shares one of his shiny silver scales with each of them. Soon, everyone in the ocean has one shiny scale, including The Rainbow Fish. The Rainbow Fish is finally happy even though he only had one shiny scale left.

## Theme

A *Publishers Weekly* reviewer called the book a "cautionary tale about selfishness and vanity".

It's central theme is about the importance of sharing with others, and how that leads to happiness.

## Book series

There are sequels in the Rainbow Fish book series:

* *Rainbow Fish to the Rescue!*: About the acceptance and integration of foreigners.
* *Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale*: About arguments and how to settle them.
* *The Rainbow Fish and the Sea Monsters' Cave*: About irrational and rational fears.
* *Rainbow Fish Finds his Way*: With the help of his new friends, Rainbow Fish finds his way back home.
* *Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea*: About modesty and happiness.
* *Good Night, Little Rainbow Fish*: About the love between mother and child.
* *You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish*: About fairness and good sportsmanship.
* *Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller*: About lies and exaggeration.

There is also a Spanish language edition of *The Rainbow Fish*, *El Pez Arco Iris,* as well as bilingual editions in English paired with Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Vietnamese.
Five Rainbow Fish stories, *The Rainbow Fish*; *Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale*; *Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea*; *You Can’t Win Them All, Rainbow Fish*; and *Good Night, Little Rainbow Fish* are featured in the collection, *The Rainbow Fish and His Friends.*