The Rainbow Fish to the Rescue!
By Marcus Pfister
The Story
A shimmering fish must choose between keeping his new friends' approval or standing up for a lonely striped fish left out of the group — right as a hungry shark appears.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's watched someone get left out of a game and isn't sure what to do about it, this story sits right inside that uncomfortable moment.
- Big idea: Real friendship means including the one who's left out, even when it costs you something.
- Vibes: Gentle, glimmering, and quietly tense — undersea beauty with a real moral weight underneath.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on including others who feel left out
- respond well to stories with a clear moral choice
- enjoy underwater worlds and shimmery illustrations
- like to talk through tricky friendship situations
Ask Your Little Reader
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the striped fish felt being left out because he didn't have a shiny scale?
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Rainbow Fish should do when the shark shows up?
- Real-life connection: Has anyone ever left you out of a game, or have you left someone else out?
- Character choices: Why do you think Rainbow Fish's new friends didn't want the striped fish to join them?
- Imagination: If you were Rainbow Fish, would it be scary to stand up for someone even if your friends disagreed?
