Book Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author: Marcus Pfister

Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Story Summary: This story is about a fish with beautiful, glittering scales who learns the
importance of sharing. When the other fish see him, they want shimmering scales too but the
Rainbow Fish keeps the scales to himself because he views them as his most prized
possessions. As a result, he feels very lonely and sad. In the end of the story, he decides to
share his beautiful scales with other fish and discovers that the more he gives away, the happier
he feels.

Story Facts:
1. The Rainbow Fish was the very first children’s book to use hot foil stamping to create a
sparkling foiled effect.
2. 30 million copies have been sold worldwide.
3. The Rainbow Fish was published in 1992.
4. Marcus Pfister used his book, The Sleepy Owl, as inspiration for the Rainbow Fish; he
wanted to create a book that was similar.
5. It was published in more than 50 languages including Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, and
Spanish.

Author Facts:
1. Marcus Pfister published his first book, The Sleepy Owl, in 1986.
2. He was born in Berne, Switzerland.
3. He does most of his illustrations for children’s books in watercolors.
4. His main hobbies are photographing wildlife and basketball.
5. He has gone on book signing tours in Korea, Japan, the United States, and many
European countries.

Story Introduction: I will introduce the story by first saying the author’s and illustrator’s name. I
will also let the kids get a good look at the cover and ask them what they notice about it. I’ll ask
them what the front cover might suggest the book is about.

Story-Stretching Questions:
1. Why do you think Rainbow Fish is ignoring the other fish?
2. Do you think that Rainbow Fish should share some of his shimmering scales?
3. Why do you think Rainbow Fish was so mean to the fish that asked for one of his
scales?
4. Do you think if he was nicer to the other fish, he wouldn’t be so lonely?
5. What do you think is more important: being the most beautiful fish or being the happiest?
6. Do you think Rainbow Fish can be happy without his beautiful scales?
 7. Was Rainbow Fish sharing his scales with everyone the right thing to do?
8. Do you think Rainbow Fish is happier now because he has friends to share his scales
with?

Story Review: To review the events of the book with the children, I will ask them what they think
the main theme of the book is. If they recognize that the book was about how important it is to
share, I will know that they were listening and comprehended the story.