Rainbow Fish and the storyteller by Marcus Pfister

The latest in the Rainbow Fish series, Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller, is about a fish called Humbert who befriends Rainbow Fish but tells very tall stories that frighten the other fish. The first story is about a plug at the bottom of the ocean that is going to be pulled out. Another story is about a huge blue whale who is going to eat all of the plankton so the little fish might starve. But for each story the hero is Humbert who is going to be the fish who saves them all.

Humbert is just looking for company and friendship, but he is going about it the wrong way. The other fish soon decide to leave Humbert alone and not listen to his stories anymore. Humbert is lonely and Rainbow Fish and Red Fin decide to help him by suggesting he tells stories to entertain his friends rather than frighten them.

The beauty of the Rainbow Fish stories are the striking illustrations which always appeal to a wide audience. This story might have a valuable lesson for younger readers in not to act boastfully and to be honest with friends.

Themes: Fish, Ocean, Friendship, Honesty, Storytelling.

Kathryn Beilby