Teacher shares why he doesn't like the classic story 'The Rainbow Fish' in detail

Children's books usually have a message or a moral. However, even though it has been written with a good intention, sometimes the message might come out all wrong. According to a teacher the classic book, "The Rainbow Fish" gives out the wrong message to young readers. The teacher, Mr Vuong—who goes by @teamvuong on TikTok—took to the platform to share why he doesn't like the book and what he finds wrong with it, even though it might not have been the author's intention.

"The Rainbow Fish" is the story of a colorful fish with sparkling scales and follows the course of the fish's friendships. The teacher shared that he doesn't like the book even though it has "great" illustrations. "I think the author had good intentions. Rainbow Fish is full of himself," Vuong began. "Because when all the other fish wanted to play with them, he sort of swam past them and thought he was better." He added, "Then one of the fishes asked for one of his scales and he refused." The man continued, "I think he has the right to do that. Because he doesn't have to give up a part of himself for anybody."

"I think the story would have worked out better if they played on Rainbow Fish's character flaw, which was that he was not humble and that he thought he was better than everybody," Vuong pointed out. "But this happens 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 behavior,” the teacher expressed. "And then later on, the wise octopus suggests to Rainbow Fish that what he needs to do is to give up his scales to the other fish," the man narrated.

"Rainbow Fish realizes that he should share, so he does that with all of the fish and then they give him acceptance," Vuong shared. "So he got acceptance when he gave up parts of who he was." He remarked how the fish had to change for others to like him. Regardless, the teacher still uses the book to discuss themes critically with his students. "I opened up with what the theme was and then I read the story without telling them my opinion. Then the kids made all these connections themselves and some of them looked at it through the lens of, 'Oh it's selfishness.' And some of them were like, 'Wait, is he buying his friends?'" Vuong expressed sharing the impression the story left on young kids.

“We had a really good discussion about how our relationships should not be transactional and conditional and you should never have to feel like you have to change yourself in order to feel like you belong,” the teacher said. “I also asked the kids to reflect on what the author intended and they also did a discussion about that. So then the next part is to create an alternate ending where the theme is not that you gotta, you know, pay for your friends. Our kids must think critically about the text that they read. Just because it has an award-winning sticker on it, it does not make it top-notch," he concluded.

People took to the comments section to share their views. @auntmayscottage wrote, "Imagine, 'Your hair is so pretty, can I have some of it?'" @magicalboyco commented, "...and now I know where I learned to be a people pleaser from." @jamstadahamsta remarked, "I get teaching selfishness but why’d they do it through the fish’s literal body."

You can follow Mr. Voung (@teamvuong) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.