Hidden Treasures

Rainbow Fish and Friends

by Gail Donovan, Marcus Pfister

What's the definition of beauty? Miss Cuttle asks each student to bring in a "beautiful" object, but no one in the class can seem to agree on what makes something beautiful.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, School

24 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

Gail Donovan was fired from her first job in an ice cream shop for making the sundaes too big. She now works in a library and writes middle grade novels, including IN MEMORY OF GORFMAN T. FROG, named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list; FINCHOSAURUS, winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award; as well as the trilogy SPARROW BEING SPARROW (Publishers Weekly, starred review), SPARROW SPREADS HER WINGS (Maine Literary Award winner for Young People's Literature), and SPARROW, ALWAYS. She has also written for the Rainbow Fish & Friends picture book series based on the bestselling work of Marcus Pfister. Donovan lives on the coast of Maine, where she jumps in the ocean all year round.

Reviews

[Ashley Klausmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved rainbow fish books, and this one does not disappoint. It hasn't very cute illustrations and sends a good message. I think elementary kids can relate to this because most of them go through a stage where they forget to think about others feelings. This book teaches them that even if something isn't special to them, it could mean a lot to another person.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice visuals, but a pretty forgettable storyline.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce qui a de la valeur pour l'un n'en pas nécessairement poru L,autre. Leur importance s'équivalent. Pas mal comme morale!

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the Rainbow fish books, and I liked the message this one was trying to portray. I love the illustrations. The plot is simple, but profound, and the story has potential for a lot of meaning, but I feel like it fell just a little short of getting their point across. If I read this to my kids, I would feel the need to expand just a little bit. The story makes implications, but then kind of skips the "learned (insert here) lesson" and went straight to "Oh joy! We all get along now."

[Kelci Cox-Griswold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like all the bright colors and illustrations in the book. I have never read this to a class, but it is a story I think my class needs to hear. It teaches that we all value things diferently and find things special for different reasons. Even though we don't value something in the same way as someone else does, we should respect and appreciate it.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

When asked to bring treasures to show in class, the fish disagree on what is actually a treasure. They realize that it means different things to different fish (or people) and that's perfectly fine. Ages 3-8.

[Modboy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as some of the other Rainbow Fish books. Teaches that people (or fish) value things differently and that those differences should be appreciated.

[Amanda Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great great book to teach that everyone is special. And each person treasures something different.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to love these books when I was little! Can't wait to read this to my daughter

[Yara & Nebras · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is special for another person may not be spacial for us but we should respect that as it's valuable for them. We are all special and we see things in special ways too (by children for children).

[Shelly H · Rating 5 out of 5]

kids like it. Weak story line.

[Jami · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rainbow fish knock off.