Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale

by Marcus Pfister

Book Overview

The third book in the New York Times bestselling Rainbow Fish series.

It's a whale of a tale in which a terrible misunderstanding escalates, putting Rainbow Fish and his friends in great danger. When a big blue whale comes to live near their reef, there is a misunderstanding between him and Rainbow Fish and his friends that leaves everyone very unhappy and hungry. Rainbow Fish must try to make peace with the big blue whale to...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735810095
• ISBN13: 9780735810099
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Northsouth Books
• Length: 24 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 11.6"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

RAINBOW FISH

I like reading this book because the fish are sharing scales and being kind to the other fish. I felt that this is not a true story because fish can't talk , or give other scales to another .

RAINBOW FISH

I LIKE READING THIS BOOK BECAUSE THE FISH are sharing scale and be in kind.

lots of lessons taught

I love this story. ... I think it teaches lots of lessons. For example, it teaches how it is wrong to make snap judgements about others. It also teaches how to work out differences, and meet with people that are different.

Big and Little Need to Cooperate to Prosper!

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale is the third in the Rainbow Fish series. In the first book, Rainbow Fish has to learn to share his glittering scales in order to be accepted. In the second book, Rainbow Fish to the Rescue, Rainbow Fish learns to help those in need, even if they are different. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale builds on the theme of Rainbow Fish to the Rescue . . . except by exploring differences on a larger scale. The book features the same beautiful illustrations and glittering highlights that made the first two books so much fun to look at. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale is based on a misunderstanding. The fish and the whale are both attracted by the krill (small shrimp-like creatures) that live near the reef. The whale also enjoys seeing the sparkling highlights on the fish. One of the fish develops a fear of the whale. When the whale comes close one day, the jagged fin fish says, "Look out! . . . The wicked whale is after us!" The whale's feelings are hurt, and the whale becomes angry. The whale chases the fish into a cavern and waves its tail so violently that the krill are dispersed. Soon, whale and fish are hungry.Rainbow fish overcomes his fear. "We must make peace with the whale." "Please let's talk." "This fight was all a big mistake. It drove off the krill and now we're all hungry." The whale makes peace. "Come now! said the whale." "Let's find new hunting grounds." "And before long, none of them could remember what the terrible fight had been about." The story is a good one to read to both older and younger siblings. For the older ones, it shows the importance of not being threatening. For the younger ones, the lesson is to assume that size does not mean menace . . . even when it feels intimidating. For both children, the book explores that words can hurt, and have unpleasant consequences. The benefits of being considerate and sharing are also displayed. For me, this book contained all of the best elements of the first two books while reminding the reader of them by the visual cues of shared sparkles on all but the striped fish. Children who are afraid of anger will probably want to avoid this book, although most should be fine with it by the recommended ages of 5 and higher. I suspect that most 4 year olds would love it.Where else do large and small have to cooperate? You might want to share those examples with your child in order to create a more complementary view of how the world can work.Seek ways to build strengths from differences!

Rainbow Fish swims to another victory!

I truly enjoyed the story of Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister. It shares a valuable lesson once again for children not to judge by looks alone. Still I find that something must have got lost in the translation, such as the part in the beginning of the one striped fish without a glittering silver scale. Beautifully illustrated as always. Marcus this one's another winner!