Picture Book Review #1

For my first picture book review I chose The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. 

Publisher: North-South Books

Copyright date: 1992

Pages: 24

Genre: Children's book

Grade Level: Kindergarten- 2nd grade

Awards: Christopher Award (1993), American Booksellers Book of The Year Award for Children (1995), North Carolina Children's Book Award (1995)  

Summary: A beautiful fish with shiny scales, known as Rainbow Fish, refuses to play with the other fish because he is too proud. His pride and selfishness push the other fish away and Rainbow Fish finds himself very lonely. In this story, Rainbow Fish comes to learn the value of sharing.

This book is a great book to do an art lesson with. You can teach students how to draw a simple fish and have them color it using shading techniques. It is also fun to add a shiny scale using tin foil!

I gave this book a rating of 3***. My ratings can be read in the chart below. 

	***	**	*	-	Comments
Plot	Plot is well developed with a sequence of events. The events are in good logical order. There is a clear conflict and resolution.	Plot contains a sequence of events. The events are in order but the conflict is not clear or does not contain a clear resolution.	There are events but they are not in good chronological order. The climax and resolution are lacking or not present.	Not addressed	*** Plot is well developed leading up to a clear conflict and resolution. Events are in order and help lead book to conflict and resolution.
Characters	Characters are well developed with clear roles and contribute to the story. Reader is able to personally connect with the character(s).	Characters have clear roles within the story. Reader is not able to connect with the character(s).	Character(s) are present but do not have clear roles. Reader is not able to connect with character(s).	No characters developed	*** Main character is well developed and all characters contribute to the story. Reader can personally connect with the main character, especially children.
Style and Language	Book contains precise vocabulary, figurative language, and or dialogue. When dialogue is used it is effective and not distracting.	Book contains precise vocabulary and/or figurative language. When dialogue is used it is distracting.	Book contains very little precise vocabulary and no figurative language or dialogue.	Book contains no precise vocabulary or figurative language. No dialogue is used.	*** This book contains good vocabulary, flows smoothly, and when dialogue is used it contributes to the story.
Theme	There is a clear theme and it is easily identifiable by the story.	There is a theme but it is a little more difficult to identify.	The theme is almost impossible to identify.	There is no theme.	*** There is a clear theme, sharing, and the story portrays it well.