Why I Hate Rainbow Fish

And Why We Read It Anyway

Rainbow Fish, the admittedly popular and award-winning and still ubiquitous 1992 children’s book by Swiss author Marcus Pfister, has spawned the usual school of successful-kid-book accessories, such as Rainbow Fish counting books, board books of opposites, hand puppets, and, of course, sequels with exclamation points (Rainbow Fish to the Rescue!, e.g.). There are posters and cards and floor puzzles also available for purchase, television shows (HBO Family), and even clever instructions on how to make yourself into Rainbow Fish. And it has also triggered a whole bunch of controversy.

Here’s the, um, plot: In the ocean swims a fish arrayed with colorful scales, including some very shiny ones, called Rainbow Fish (RF). One day, a young/little plainly scaled fish approaches RF and asks him for one of his shiny scales. RF responds, “Get away from me!” The dejected little fish tells all the other drab fish about RF’s scorn, and they collectively shun him. Confused about his ostracism, RF asks a starfish who (presumably because starfish really aren’t that bright) sends him to the Wise Old Octopus. The WOO counsels him in true Delphic fashion:

“Give a glittering scale to each of the other fish. You will no longer be the most beautiful fish in the sea, but…