Mixed messaging
The concept of sharing is pretty abstract for children of a young age. The more easily understood message is that you have to change or give up what makes you “shine” to appease others. Which is definitely not a message we want to be sending our children
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
beautiful title
This book is for children ages three and up who are learning their outer beauty ,who are also learning who to play and share with others. I used to read this to my daughter ,this was her favorite book.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Wonderful book
I read this to my grandchildren when they were little and they loved it. Now that they are grown, it is a book they give to the little ones in their lives.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
not a good book
lame book. don't buy it. I would never read this to my children.
Beautiful lesson
This story teaches children about being different and the joy of giving. Looks are not what makes a person (fish)
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
It’s a beautiful analogy
The analogy here is that The Rainbow fish has beautiful scales and thinks they are better and more beautiful than the other fish. Then realizes that it’s not about being better than other fish as you’re then lonely. So “Sharing the scales” with others can really be an analogy of the simple concept of no one is better than others, don’t treat others differently - share kindness and (items you have - like candy, cookies) with everyone. A fish doesn’t have anything else it can give - so for the story he gave some of his beautiful scales a concept that kids can understand. The fish are now viewed as all the same and no one is being treated differently. The children are not learning to give parts of their soul away. They are learning that if you have something to share, it feels better to share that with others and that everyone deserves to be treated the same. Overthinking a children’s book as an adult is more scary for these children than this book.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
fond childhood memory
I love this book, and it is a staple of my childhood. It is unfortunate to see the bad reviews from people on here about this book. I have degrees in psychology and early child development and can attest to this not being detrimental to impressionable young minds. It is not about buying friendship. It is about relinquishing your ego and sharing beautiful parts of yourself with others. I am buying this book to gift to some children I work with. I am also pregnant and can not wait to read this book to my child.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Awful message
This is the worst book I have ever read, and there are a lot of books out there that should never have been published. This teaches your child to be average, to be like everyone else, not to have anything special. This is socialism. Basically give away everything that is special about you so that other children will like you. So you’re just average like them. What an awful message to send to a child.Some reviews suggested that it was a wonderful book about sharing. What a joke. Never give up who you are so someone likes you.