Will I love The Rainbow Fish?

Marcus Pfister’s shimmering fish learns that true sparkle comes from sharing, not hoarding, and its foil-embellished scales bring emotional growth to life.

The Rainbow Fish was a big inspiration for The Mood Swings cover and artwork. I still remember picking this book off the library shelf as a kid!  

Apart from its aesthetic, this story gives kids a visual and emotional lesson in generosity, teaching them that sharing feelings and kindness makes connections—and happiness—richer and more real. It’s an uplifting way to show how openness can soothe big emotions.

Children love being unique and different. We live in a culture that celebrates beauty and shiny, glittery wealth and even “having” a lot.

The beautiful rainbow fish was indeed beautiful on the outside but this did not endear the fish to her peers. This book teaches that in gratitude and service to others, we show our love.

When we show our heart and share from the heart, this is a sign of true beauty, and this helps us better connect with others. And in this way–when we give love, we feel love. 

I remember this story from when I was little. I would stroke the shiny scales with my fingers and admire the octopus in his cave. Little me couldn’t believe the fish would give away his scales! Didn’t he want to keep them all? The message about the happiness that comes with generosity was certainly one I needed to hear...repeatedly.