F is for Rainbow Fish: Library Notes

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister talks about more than the story of a fish.  It is also a good book to talk about another word beginning with F... Friendship!

I love the opening. Just like 'Once upon a time', the book starts with a description to set the imagination on fire. "A long way out in the deep blue sea..." If I were reading this with a child, I would stop there and have them imagine the scene, maybe even draw a picture of what they envision. What shade of blue is the water?  Does the water go all the way to the horizon or do they imagine 'a long way out' more like halfway across a pond?  What else do they think is out there?  Maybe the sun is shining and there are boats on the water or maybe it is dull on the surface but alive with teems of fish just below the surface.  It is such a good opening phrase to help us realize that we all picture things differently and interpret the same words according to our own perceptions and ideas about the world. 

Stories typically have a problem that is presented, expanded on and resolved. By the end of page four, can the child recognize the problem?  What do they predict will happen in this book or what kind of solutions do they think are possible?  If you haven't read the book but want to know what it is about, I will give you a hint. Rainbow Fish is beautiful but he is proud and doesn't want to play with others.  His attitude created a problem and he needed help to find a solution from someone older and wiser.  It was a difficult solution but one that made everyone happy.

What would you do if you were Rainbow Fish? Do you think he made a good choice? What would make you happy? This is a great book for discussing values and how to treat others. The saying that we should treat others as we want others to treat us is a phrase that we could teach the child(ren) in our life as we read this book to them.  Another phrase that fits is the one is the 'text to world' example that follows.

I was in a kindergarten room recently and a child came to me in tears saying, "But, sharing is caring!" He was devastated that someone didn't share with him.  The other child had it is their power to bring joy to someone else but chose not to, leaving neither one of them happy. The other children in the room started calling out to the other child that 'sharing is caring' until the child agreed to share.  Interestingly, they were then both happy.  A true experience that illustrates the truth of the concepts in The Rainbow Fish and the importance of helping children find solutions that work and make the world a better place.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

W is for Water: Themed Activities

  Water: As a fundamental necessity for life, water is highly esteemed. Without it, we cannot survive. But more than a basic requirement, it is also the source of many fun activities that you may enjoy with the child(ren) in your life.  Here are a few suggestions but the list is extensive! Be creative! Add rice or beads or coloured water to a water bottle and seal it to make a sensory bottle or shaker. Bob for apples in a bucket of water. Saturate a sponge and wring it out in another bucket 20 feet away. Which relay team will reach a set limit first? (ie. fill a glass to the brim) Learn to swim. Add food colouring to glasses of water and add in white carnations and wait. Watch how they change colour. Practice a thorough hand-washing routine. You can use a GloGerm kit to find out if you managed to get rid of all the germs! Learn about the water cycle. Do a science experiment to test different paper towel brands. Which one is the most absorbent when placed on a spill of 1/4 cup ...
Read more

S is for The Snowy Day: Library Notes

Image
We have had a snowy winter so perhaps this book has already been well-read and loved by the child(ren) in your life!  I wanted to be sure you know it exists because it is a classic. It covers the winter season, clothing for cold weather, and it suggests things to do on a snowy day...all in one book! Not only that, but it also helps children know that snow melts too and as the boy goes through that disappointment they think through what to do when they face that scenario too. Ezra Jack Keats wrote and illustrated this picture book in 1962 about a boy named Peter. His illustrations won him the Caldecott Medal. He layered fabrics and decorative paper and then added to that to create his illustrations.  A great follow up activity for children would be to attempt a picture using various materials such as those used in this book. The scenario is simple and familiar.  What do you do on a snowy day? Crunch in the snow. Make patterns as you walk and leave footprints behind. Make s...
Read more

Library Notes: Clap Your Hands

Image
One book that has proven the test of time is called "Clap Your Hands" by Lorinda Cauley.  The sheer number of lessons that can be covered by reading this book are incredible.  You can find the book online to purchase and/or to listen to in a recorded storytelling  Here are some accompanying thoughts. Expression: With body and words this book helps you express ideas in a fun manner alone or in a group Engagement: It is an interactive book to entice reluctant readers and engage children in the class. Understanding Emotions:  Build on the phrase, "Show me a smile. Show me a frown." Connection to the world:  Connect to people ("Tell me your name.  How old are you?") and to the animal world by making animal sounds and copying their actions ("roar like a lion, growl like a bear") Language Skills:  Study verbs (action words) such as clap, stomp, shake, wiggle, wave. How many are in the book? Vocabulary: Label body parts ("clap your hands, stomp you...
Read more