Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #210167 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-01
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780735814813
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
A mini-book edition of Rainbow Fish to the Rescue! by Pfister (the second adventure in the series) includes the complete text and the same glittering illustrations, as Rainbow Fish and his friends help the little striped fish avert a shark.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?When a little striped fish approaches the established school of fish, each of whom has one silver scale, and asks if he can play, he is turned away because he is not equipped to play "flash tag." Although Rainbow Fish remembers how it felt to be excluded, he does not come to the rescue until later when the school escapes a snapping shark's jaws, leaving the striped fish to fend for himself. Then Rainbow Fish spearheads the school's diversionary maneuvers and leads the smaller fish to safety. The next game is changed so that the new member of the group can join in. Pfister uses the same ocean-hued watercolors and foil-stamped scales that he used to illustrate Rainbow Fish (North-South, 1992). The faces of the fish reflect the emotions of the text, from derision to fear. The shark is appropriately fearsome. Although it is not mandatory to have read the earlier title first, it would be helpful in order to understand his recollection of his loneliness before he shared his scales and became one of the group. The gently implied themes of sharing and friendship in the first story are expanded here to include courage. Groups may be inspired to talk about befriending others, even if they are different, or about doing what is right, even if it is not popular.?Betty Teague, Blythe Elementary School, Greenville SC
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 3^-6. A sequel to the enormously popular Rainbow Fish (1992), in which our hero makes friends by sharing his sparkling scales with his plainer cousins, this picture book continues the theme of belonging. When Rainbow Fish and his friends exclude a little striped fish from their game of flash tag simply because he doesn't have a flashing scale, Rainbow Fish wants to help. Unfortunately, he's afraid that he'll lose his friends if he goes against the flow. It takes a threatening shark for Rainbow Fish to rally his friends to the rescue and for the fish to accept the newcomer. Parents and teachers will find the book a good vehicle for discussing courage in the face of peer pressure. Children will find the iridescent silver highlights in the watercolor artwork beguiling and the emotions played out underwater familiar from the playground. Carolyn Phelan

Customer Reviews

A colorful and meaningful book about helping others
How refreshing to find an artistically interesting book for children that is also accompanied by some valuable meaning! If you are going to spend money on books, they should not only be entertaining but might as well accomplish something at the same time. I appreciate the opportunity to use this medium to teach my children to care for the interests of others and to see life from others' perspective.

Much More Valuable If Read After The Rainbow Fish
This book is a superb sequel to the wonderful children's book, The Rainbow Fish. Although Rainbow Fish to the Rescue can be read as a stand-alone, the lesson from the book's moral is clearer if The Rainbow Fish is read first. The Rainbow Fish establishes the pleasures and benefits of sharing and belonging. It can leave a child feeling that there are no other issues. Rainbow Fish to the Rescue expands that vision to the idea of inclusiveness, rather than forming and maintaining cliques. You will also enjoy seeing the spectacular foil highlights on the pages, as you did with The Rainbow Fish.

"Ever since Rainbow Fish had shared his scales [with the other fish], these fish had done everything together." "They played . . . ate . . . [and] even rested together."

"They were so happy together, they had no interest in other fish."

Their favorite game involved tag using the shiny scales that Rainbow Fish had shared as the "it" spot. When a little striped fish comes up and wants to play, some of the fish reject him because he doesn't have a scale like they do. In essence, they have become as vain and self-satisfied as the Rainbow Fish was at the beginning of the first book.

Although Rainbow Fish feels a twinge of sympathy for the little striped fish, he ultimately ignores the newcomer.

Suddenly, danger stalks the reef. The shiny scaled fish head for cover, leaving the little striped fish to his fate.

The book's resolution is full of good examples of how the many can change to accommodate the few without any serious harm or loss of fun to themselves. You can use this story to talk about the special issues of unpopular children and those who are new to the school. A helping hand in either direction is a great thing for a more popular child to provide. Many children would be willing to do that, but just either don't think of it or are not quite sure how to do it in terms of the group of friends the child has. With your helpful comments, those hurdles can quickly be overcome.

I suggest that after enjoying this book, you ask your child if anyone in her or his grade is ever left out like the little striped fish is here. Then, you could ask him or her what it probably feels like to be that child at those moments. From there, you can shift into how a helping hand of friendship can be usefully extended in an acceptable way.

May all be appreciated!

Pfister Offers Engaging Texts and Fine Artwork
I appreciate Pfister's ability to write stories that challenge my 2 1/2 year old's comprehension of story structure and vocabulary while sticking to themes and plots that she can understand and enjoy.
This book might appeal to readers who want the Rainbow Fish's luscious illustrations and foil highlights, but disagree with the supposedly "conformist" or "socialist" thrust of the original. This book offers a message of inclusion with which most parents would agree. I like Rainbow Fish here and in the other titles.
(Of course, it's a little unrealistic that a shark would be scared away by a few little fish darting around its snout, but hey, this isn't natural history, it's a fable!)
It's a big hit with my child- I didn't give it 5 stars because as an adult, it seems a little bit cliche. But I'm sure she would give it a top rating!