The Rainbow Fish
In this story, a beautiful fish with shimmering, glittery scales decides to share his treasures. He gives his scales away one by one to make new friends.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is estimated to take about 7.5 minutes to read aloud (611 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-5.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 7.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 611Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 3-5Our editorial fit
Our review
The standout feature is the use of foil to make the scales actually glitter on the page. For young children, this tactile element makes the book very engaging to look at and touch.
It works well for the three-to-five-year-old age group. It’s a visually striking book that sparks conversation about sharing and generosity.
Before you buy it
The central message—that you must give up parts of yourself to make friends—is a concept many parents find questionable and might want to discuss.
Themes
- sharing
- fish
- friendship
- glitter
- generosity
Books like The Rainbow Fish
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read The Rainbow Fish aloud?
About 7.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 611. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is The Rainbow Fish actually for?
Ages 3-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does The Rainbow Fish survive being read on repeat?
Yes, reasonably. It stays bearable through the repeat-request phase without becoming a favourite forever.
Is The Rainbow Fish a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise The Rainbow Fish?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 3 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read The Rainbow Fish on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 2 sentences a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
What themes does The Rainbow Fish cover?
We tag it with sharing, fish, friendship, glitter and generosity. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
