You Can’t Win them All, Rainbow Fish. Marcus Pfister. 2017. 32 pages. NorthSouth Books. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.]
There’s a reason Rainbow Fish is so beloved, and this continuation of the story is a perfect example of why. In You Can’t Win Them All, Rainbow Fish learns an important lesson about sportsmanship and skill. While playing hide and seek with friends, Rainbow Fish is dismayed that he can’t immediately find his friends, and even more disappointed when he is quickly found in his own hiding space. However, with the help of his friends, he begins to understand what it means to sometimes win, sometimes lose, but always have a good attitude toward the game.
Pfister continues to deliver illustrations that wow. The watercolor images are so beautiful. The contrast of colors on each fish, coupled with the intricate details in the undersea setting make for imagery that enhance the story.
You Can’t Win Them All, is an easy read, with enough complexity that it doesn’t feel like an overly elementary book. I would recommend this for early readers, especially for reading aloud. More than that, it shares a meaningful lesson that is communicated in an easy-to-understand way. Its honesty about feelings of embarrassment, fear, and frustration is both age-appropriate and mature. Overall, I absolutely recommend this and have already made note of a few kids in my life who will get a copy!
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