El Pez Arco Iris y La Balena Azul / Rainbow Fish and the Big, Blue Whale

Rainbow Fish

by Marcus Pfister

Rainbow Fish returns in a new adventure -- this time involving a misunderstanding with a big blue whale. Erroneously assuming the worst, based only on the whales size, Rainbow Fish and his friends' dire suspicions escalate, antagonizing the gentle whale and leading to disaster. It's up to Rainbow Fish to come to the rescue once more -- helping them all to live together peacefully. Sure to be a hit with Rainbow Fish's many Spanish-speaking fans.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction, Fantasy, Emotion

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Marcus Pfister was born in Berne, Switzerland, and began his career as a graphic artist in an advertising agency. In 1983, he decided to dedicate more time to artistic pursuits, and began to write and illustrate his first book, The Sleepy Owl, which was published in 1986. His best-known work to date is The Rainbow Fish, which has remained on bestseller lists across the United States since 1992.

Marcus does most of his illustrations for children's books in watercolors. He begins each book by stretching watercolor paper over a wooden board so that it won't warp when wet. He then copies his rough sketches onto the paper in pencil. At this point, he is ready to begin painting. For backgrounds and blended contours, he uses wet paint on wet paper to get a softer effect. For sharper details, he first lets the paper dry, then paints the final picture layer by layer. When the illustration is complete he cuts the paper from the wooden board.

For books that feature holographic foil stamping, he then tapes a piece of transparent film over the art and indicates with a black marker where the foil stamping should be. The foil stamping is then applied during the production process after the pages are printed and before the final binding.

Marcus and his wife, Kathryn, work together in Berne, where they live with their three children.

Reviews

[J9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. What a completely silly politically correct story about krill and whales getting along. The krill swim away from the whale because they think he's going to eat them. (Go figure.) They the whale angrily swishes his tale because they "hurt" his feelings. The krill sees this, immediately apologizes and they become "friends" and go off in search of food together. Seriously? (Can't we all just get along?) The only reason I gave it two stars was because the shiny fish are pretty. I, and my 3 yr old twins like the pictures.

[Jennifer Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be best in K+ classroom. It could be told as a re-telling or a group read aloud. It has a great lesson of not to judge someone because of how they look. It also touches on how beneficial making friends with someone that different can be for both parties involved. The illustrations are very beautiful and captivating with the colorful and shiny fish!

[TheVegetarianAntichrist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sich Friendensstifter nennen aber den Streit selbst anzetteln. Jaja…

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow Fish has been shining his way into children's hearts for over thirty years. The third book of the series, Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Wale, first published in 1998, is a great tale about how a simple misunderstanding can lead to big problems. Marcus Pfister is a remarkable artist and his illustrations of an idyllic ocean are simply enchanting. Translator David Henry Wilson used his talent to bring Pfister's story to the English speaking world. His words help set the mood and make the concepts of communication and cooperation easy for youngsters to grasp.

When a whale decides to live nearby, all the fish become afraid of the big creature. His hurt feelings turn into anger and soon the fish and the whale are fighting. The commotion scares away the krill, and soon everyone is not only mad or scared, but hungry as well. The long passages are full of scenic description and explore the events in great detail. It is up to Rainbow fish to talk with the whale and make peace. When he does, he realizes that the whole situation could have been avoided. This fish tale is a great way to teach little kids they don't need to be scared of something different and that talking about your fears and discussing them can solve a lot of problems.

Despite the high word count, the long story kept my preschool listener engaged. Rainbow fish has entertained children around the world for years and is still swimming strong.

[Audrey]

Un album que j'ai retrouvé aujourd'hui, je me rappelais une tout autre histoire et je pense que c'est en partie parce que je regardais les illustrations plus que n'importe quoi d'autre.

En me repenchant sur ces histoires de mon enfance je me demande où sont ces adultes qui nous transmettaient des conseils sur nos relations avec ceux qui nous entourent.

Je ne sais toujours pas si nous étions censé voir le message caché sous des personnages qui ne nous ressemblent pas, si ces histoires etaient écrites pour les auteurs eux même, si elles étaient en partie destinées aux parents, si nous sommes supposés nous replonger dedans plus vieux ou si devaient simplement assimiler la réaction des personnages pour pouvoir la recopier plus tard? Nous les faisons t'on lire trop tôt?

Cette histoire est bien sûr enfantine mais elle a le mérite de nous faire comprendre que nos mots sont importants, on peut faire le bien comme le mal avec.

En revenant sur mon commentaire peut être que la morale est juste une construction c'est nous qui tirons des morales des histoires.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pfister's stories are usually quite straightforward and not particularly complex. This one does a good job about educating children on the importance of overcoming prejudices and understanding how each of us has a role in making things work. But it doesn't do much more than this.

[Deez Nuts · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warum klingt der Titel als ob der Fisch Verbrechen begehen würde


Update: das is einfach ein und dieselbe Story wie das andere Regenbogenfischbuch, voll der Scam

[Darchelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was hard to follow and the plot was difficult to understand even after getting through the entire book. Each page was overloaded with illustrations and lots of text. Children will definitely appreciate the life-like pictures of the underwater life.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about the deep blue sea. It is also a story of how we must be careful with our words and what we say about others. It is also a tale of courage to do the right thing.
Love this story.

[Adam Singer · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an utter failure. The titular fish is hardly rainbow, and the hyped up whale is not even big.

This should be called the tile colored fish and the book sized whale.

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5/5

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize there were so many Rainbow Fish books. This is my second read.

Rainbow fish love all the Krill they can eat. Then a whale showed up and was eating Krill as well. The whale thinks the fish are pretty and the fish are scared of the whale. An offhand comment makes the whale angry and the fish flee to a cave.

Rainbow fish has to make up with the whale and friendship blossoms.

I keep telling my niece and nephew that they have so much control over how life will go. They don't believe me. They fight like cats and dogs. The niece is so controlling over my nephew. Neither will let anything of the other slide. I keep telling them, you can choose war in life or you can choose grace. With grace, we let people be people and give space. There are always people who get on your nerves or do things that annoy us. I have people around where I live that annoy me. I don't want war, how exhausting, so I choose grace. My niece and nephew don't listen to me at all. They choose war and everyone in the house suffers for it. It's exhausting, especially for the family.

(example: My neighbors are two sisters and they will yell at each other something awful. The floor is thin and I can hear it all. It's awful. So, I choose to play my music and dance. I can't stop them, so I focus on something else.)

The artwork is pretty. It looks mixed media. Marcus sure does a whole lot with all that blue. I enjoy it.

Kids that love the sea will enjoy this book

[Ria Mittal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I think the Rainbow Fish and the Whale by Marcus Pfister is a book with a great message for children. In this picture book, Rainbow Fish spends time with her family as they eat krill when one day a whale comes near them. The little fish are frightened because they think that he is going to eat them. They quick swim away and the whale feels really bad because the he had no intentions of eating them. Later rainbow fish meets up with the whale again and work out the issue, leading to a happily every after. I think this book has a great message which is that people shouldn’t just assume other people’s attention by the way they look or by their stereotypes. This is really common to what I see in the news actually about criminal injustices due to racial stereotypes. Children can learn about being fair and not getting irrationally scared when there is no real threat. This book was also good because the detailing of the illustrations. For example, the texture of the pages in the book was very shiny, making it seem like the reader is in the ocean with the fish.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might at first glance be seen as just another sequel/spin-off of the beloved tale, but it carries a deeper message about how fear can lead to misinterpretation of motives, fears for scarcity of resources, and distrust of the world - but also the difference that can be made when one group directly talks to the "other" and misunderstandings are clarified, feelings shared, and further communication opened. When a whale watches the shimmering fish in admiration, the fish fear he will eat too much krill, leaving none for them (despite there always having been enough), and isolate, chasing the whale away but then living in anxiety. After a while, the rainbow fish sees how pointless the fight has been, and leads the other fish to meet with the whale, in which the whale expresses his hurt feelings, the fish apologize sincerely, and both sides realize that neither had hostile intent and all can work together to find a solution to possible krill shortage (searching for new hunting areas together).

[Courtney Rose]

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale is a fantastic read. The book follows the original beautiful rainbow fish on a new adventure. There is a big blue whale and the fish react in fear to the whale rather than friendship. The response really upsets the whale and in return, he scares all the fish food away. The rainbow fish then musters up her bravery and asks the whale what he is doing. Through kind conversation, the fish learns the whale wants friendship and thus begins a beautiful and unique friendship. The fish and the whales then embark on a new ocean leading the way with friendship. This book would be great in a Kindergarten classroom. I would use the book to teach about friendship, but also this book could lead to a discussion about ecosystems because of the food sources taken away from this fish in this book. The book demonstrated well how there are some people who need a friend and they might do it is confusing and not kind ways. I could clearly see the importance of communication with others through this book.

[Emily Chaffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a school of rainbow fish and how they had a whale hanging out in their stomping grounds and home. They were so afraid that they started talking about him badly and they were actually pretty mean. The whale then got mad and backed them into a corner and drove off their food. It was now up to Rainbow fish to make peace with the whale so they would have something to eat.

I liked this book. It wasn't my favorite but it definitely taught a nice lesson. It showed that words really do hurt, and that can cause someone to retaliate and make the situation worse.

I would use this in a class to make that point. Sometimes when we say something about a person, it hurts them and they can hurt us much worse. I think I would also use it as a lesson that we can be friends with all types of people.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I start, Rainbow Fish was one of my favorites in school. It didn't matter what kind of mood I was in, if a teacher brought out any Rainbow Fish related anything, instant good mood. That said it was hard not to give it five stars. I gave only four starts but I can't really pin point why I don't feel like deserves five without describing the whole story. Any who, the visual appeal is excellent, colorful, sparkling fish. I mean come on, what child wouldn't love that. This book is about points of view (this should be at the top of my review but it's not). Books about different points of views are great for all those adorable egocentric children who don't know how to see any other side of the story besides theirs. And...sparkly fish.

[Hailey Brower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a fish with rainbow scales, and the misunderstanding he creates with a big blue whale. I think that this book is very well written, and it lends itself well to a good read aloud in an elementary classroom. I think that the illustrations in this book is what sets it apart. They are very colorful and engaging for young students. Overall, I would give this book a rating of five out of five stars. It provides itself well to teaching a variety of lessons, and it also opens up a wide variety of discussion topics. I would specifically recommend this book to lower elementary teachers.

[Kels Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have adored the Rainbow Fish books since my childhood. My passion for collecting children’s books stems from their stunning illustrations. So, when I came across this gem, I knew I had to take a closer look and read it. It certainly didn’t let me down; it evoked a wave of nostalgia and cherished memories from my younger days. I remain captivated by the illustrations, and I genuinely believe it ranks among my favorite artworks, especially with its gorgeous fish and their scales. The Rainbow Fish always imparts a valuable moral and message, which I truly appreciate. Overall, it is a must-have addition to any child's library.

[Brandice Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about the same Rainbow Fish as the first book. It is a story about friendship, meeting new people, and how we should treat them. I love this book because it is a great teaching book when wanting to teach about meeting new people and how we should treat them. This book would be great in a classroom and can be used when a new student arrives, the first day of school, etc. The book has some teaching points about fish and whales and what they eat as well. I like this book and the pictures in it too.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book for Read O Rama 2020.

The Rainbow Fish was one of my favorite childhood books so I was delighted to discover there were more of them. I found this one in a thrift store a while back and figured it would fit the readathon’s theme well.

While this one is nowhere are good as the original, the illustrations were nice and we get to see more of the ocean. This book also had a good message about assumptions. Not mind blowing but the illustrations were as stunning as the originals and makes a nice addition for Rainbow Fish fans.

3.5 stars

[Chiquita wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to incorporate in a child reading selection to allow them to learn about friendship and working together to solve a problem. Many children feel that the way of expressing themselves is different, and this wonderful and colorful creation provides them with a way to solve problems. Also, it is best to attach books or pictures about the different things that people will see in the ocean and engage in interesting activities so that they can experience sensory things and expand their motor skills.

[Mary Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister falls under the picture book category. This book has won no awards. The age group that this book is intended for is 4-8 years old. This book is about Rainbow Fish and his friends encounter a whale. This whale loves to watch them because they are sparkly, but the fish are suspicious of the whale. I rate this book 3 stars. The reason for this is that it wasn't that interesting of a book, and I felt like I knew what was going to happen next. Lastly, the illustrations seemed very similar on each page because there was no change.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whale has been hanging out near Rainbow Fish's home, but he never says anything; he just stares. The fish become worried the whale will eat them and begin speeding away whenever they see him. The whale responds by chasing them, furthering the misunderstanding. It's up to Rainbow Fish to set things right.

Sometimes prejudice can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, but by talking through their concerns, these fish learn that the only thing they have to fear is their own imaginations. An apt story for today's fear mongering tendencies.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The very first thing I noticed about this installment of Rainbow Fish is the absence of the shiny scale. The other books I've read (so far) all have shiny foil embedded in the pages that show the rainbow fin the fish all have. This book...the "rainbow" fin is drawn in. Strike number 1.

Strike number 2 is that the book really feels forced, for the sake of continuing the series.

Strike number 3 is that even though it's a children's book it's corny.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be used as a good example to teach social skills for children. Whales only observe the scales of beautiful fishes, and fish do not enjoy the freedom of fear themselves, assuming whales are their enemies. But it is a book that teaches that conflicts can be resolved through courageous conversation and can be developed into friendships each other. The beautiful whales and fish pictures add to the interest of this book.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale is, first, a book which is attractive to the touch; each time you turn a page the fish you will want to touch. Even the whale in the ocean blue is bedazzled by the beauty and glitter of the fish. This story is a wonderful resource for classroom conversations about resolving conflicts. Read on to find out how promptly resolving conflicts can keep you safe and can even help you make new friends.

[Bethany Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super cute story about not judging someone by their appearance. It teaches the lesson that we should always be kind to others and use kind words because words can hurt. The illustrations offer vibrant, shiny images that are sure to hold a child's attention. This is a great social and emotional book because it encourages children to consider the feelings of others. Children will also learn how to solve problems with someone they might have hurt, or with someone who hurt them.

[Jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vocabulary in this book is enriching because it uses the words suspicious, wicked, lashed out, and terrified. I would use this book to talk about how important it is to be kind to others. I'd talk about the feelings displayed in this book for the main characters and how to problem-solve. I enjoy how to text is big and the pictures go from one page to another to display how gigantic the whale really is.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rainbow Fish and his friends swam happily every day and ate krill near the reef. One day a big blue whale swimming by noticed their shiny silver scales and stopped to admire them. The fish worried that they would have not enough to eat anymore, because the whale also ate krill - lots of krill! Problems arose between them and Rainbow Fish had to try to settle things.
Nice story about misunderstandings and resolving them. Beautiful illustrations.