'We Hate This Book': Educators Slam Children's Classic 'The Rainbow Fish'

With more than 30 million copies sold worldwide, most of us have either had this classic children’s book read to us when we were young, or read it to our own children. But now teachers are lashing out at The Rainbow Fish, saying it’s toxic.

For those who need a refresher, The Rainbow Fish is a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Swiss author and illustrator Marcus Pfiser and published in 1992. The story follows a Rainbow Fish, who has shiny, multicoloured scales, which are the envy of all the other fish.

So much so, that they won’t play with Rainbow Fish unless he gives them some of his glittering scales. Eventually he gives up all but one of his shiny scales to other fish, and they all end up having just one multicoloured shiny scale. And Rainbow Fish is happy. Seems pretty innocuous right? A story about sharing, about equality. Or is it?

For some time there’s been a bubbling undertow of criticism, which has once again resurfaced with educators taking to TikTok to share their concern.

“The illustrations are great and I think the author had good intentions,” explained primary school teacher Mr. Vương in his video.

@teamvuong Poor Rainbow Fish. #teachersoftiktok #teachersfollowteachers #teachertok #literacy #therainbowfish #readaloud ♬ original sound – Mr. Vương

But his main gripe with the book is that Rainbow Fish had to give up part of himself for the other fish to play with him.

“I think the story would have worked out better if they just played on Rainbow Fish’s character flaw, which was that he was not humble and that he thought he was better than everybody.

“But when Rainbow Fish said, ‘No’ and drew a boundary, all the other fish decided not to play with him. That made it more about how all the fish didn’t accept him because he didn’t give up his scales, rather than them responding to his stuck up behaviour. So he got acceptance when he gave up parts of who he was. He had to change to get others to like him.”

His sentiments were echoed by nursingtheoryprof: “We also hate this book in our house … we threw it away after we were given it as a gift after we realised that it basically says he had to give up parts of himself to buy friends.”

While 31-year-old librarian Abby doesn’t mince words, saying the book is her enemy.

“This book is my nemesis. This is why I hate this book: so this fish – The Rainbow Fish – has these glittering scales. And all the other fish hate him for it. Why? It gets worse. So, the Rainbow Fish goes around and he asks what he should do about everybody hating him and ultimately, it turns out that the other fish have decided that they want some of these shiny scales, because they’re jealous.

“So what’s the logical solution here? Clearly disembodiment. Yeah! So the Rainbow Fish decides that he’s going to remove his scale and share them with these jealous, angry fish. What? I seriously hate this book.”

@thelillyscott Am I overreacting about this book or do you get me? This seems like absolutely toxic messaging. Rainbow fish… WTF?! #momtok #newmom #childrensbooks #rainbowfish ♬ original sound – Lillyscott

While TikTok user Lilly Scott claims the book is ‘toxic’.

“This classic childhood book literally might be one of the most toxic books I’ve ever read. Don’t you think the lesson should be that if someone doesn’t want to be your friend because you’re not giving them something then … go make a different friend?”

Have you read this book to your kids? What’s your opinion. Let us know in the comments below.

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76 Comments

- - mom462038 said
  - 30 Nov 2023
    9:23 pm
Can’t please everyone, I’m sure there would still be people who love this book

- - mom443421 said
  - 30 Nov 2023
    10:19 am
I’ve never heard of this book, however it’s interesting to see such strong reactions to it!

- - ChiWren said
  - 19 Nov 2023
    9:14 pm
To claim a child’s book as your nemesis is a little humorous.

- - skbou said
  - 08 Oct 2023
    10:39 pm
Seems like rubbish to me. I loved it…..mostly interested in the pics I suppose. My sister’s kids loved it. You don’t have to go too far to see the same thing apparently everywhere, even in politics, in a big way. I think they should stop spending so much time looking for sinister undertows in everything, heck so many kids books & even shows are now being ‘exposed’ as having sinister meanings and being pulled.

- - BellaB said
  - 07 Oct 2023
    6:45 pm
I’ve never liked the way the Rainbow Fish has to give away what makes them stand out as an individual.

- - mom462038 said
  - 30 Sep 2023
    8:02 am
I have never heard of this book. I think hating it is a bit strong. Can’t we just read a book and enjoy it these days, does everything need to be politicised ?!

- - ashlieej said
  - 23 Jul 2023
    9:38 pm
Never thought of it that way! I used to love reading this book as a kid

- - mom494550 said
  - 08 Jul 2023
    8:37 pm
ergh, that lilly scott is toxic. She is too much.
The point to the story is to want to share your good tidings with others.
I dont wholesomely agree with this book either, but I dont think its as toxic as they/she makes it to be.

- - mustangsachy said
  - 06 Jul 2023
    10:24 am
Eh, this book definately sparked a love of reading in my kids. I didn’t look to seriously into it.

- - mom493188 said
  - 16 Jun 2023
    2:30 pm
Why jump on the band wagon because of what some tafe educated people say? Make up your own minds.

- - mom101628 said
  - 01 Apr 2023
    9:24 pm
Sometimes books are a good way of bringing a topic into the open with the reader – that’s surely what they are meant to be doing, isn’t it? Surely we have to see both sides of every argument and unless we are confronted with it, we will never be able to do that. I must admit my children didn’t find anything bad in this book at all.

- - mom385887 said
  - 01 Apr 2023
    8:46 am
I do see where these people are coming from, but I also think the book could be a good conversation starter with our kids about this sort of topic. They may not interpret it the same way and it could open up a dialogue with them about changing yourself for others and setting boundaries etc.

- - RA1234756 said
  - 30 Mar 2023
    12:38 pm
It is popular to hate this book now. But it used to be popular to love it.
Perhaps we should all just think for ourselves, using unchanging principals, rather than flowing with popular notions?
- Mum2archer replied
  
  05 Aug 2023 , 6:57 pm
  I agree with you 100% on this
- - MummaD said
  - 27 Mar 2023
    9:43 pm
Didn’t know of this book when my kids were younger. Lots of books are being changed now, frustrating some don’t need to be.

- - welshmummy said
  - 25 Mar 2023
    1:31 pm
Never read this book but i can see where they are coming from. I don’t think the author thought of that when they wrote it. Times are changing.

- - CassLee83 said
  - 21 Mar 2023
    9:07 pm
Ive read this book once, my daughter enjoys this book, when i first read it i was shocked at what was going on in the story, its like its telling children to give apart of themselves up just so they can have friends, thats my impression, i have not read it since.. there was lots of conversation with my daughter after reading this, but i get why educators are saying what they are

- - Lace89 said
  - 19 Mar 2023
    12:10 am
Argh this annoys me so much. Some people have way to much time on their hands! It literally ruins so much. I loved this book when I was young and I bought it to read to my kids when they were younger and they loved it. I hate that movies, books, sayings, even phrases like merry Christmas is being changed because people have too much time on their hands and think everything is not about equality? Arghhhhh lol even chickos!!! I god damn loved chickos and their name! Makes me not want to buy them now the names changed
- Julzie13 replied
  
  28 May 2023 , 1:23 pm
  Give it a few years and nothing pre 2000 will be allowed…
  You cannot change history, but you can change how you process that. If you get that upset about a book to publicly video yourself, then I think you need to look into some self help strategies for moving on with your life.
- - Lividanke said
  - 14 Mar 2023
    2:21 pm
It’s sad that so much negativity is read into some books these days and some of our classics have to be changed to suit current society.

- - Bizma said
  - 10 Mar 2023
    4:28 am
Like everything else these days, this is also being taken beyond necessary. I dont think any evil was intended here and its jist a matter of interpretation

- - tessie said
  - 09 Mar 2023
    12:56 pm
I’ve read this book and I didn’t take anything negative from it. I thought it meant that he needed to change his attitude. Must admit that it’s a hard book to cover because I cover books for our local school library. I must have covered this book at least twice a year. It’s just a new copy of the book but I’ve been covering them for over 30 years now and still going.