This is a past event

Rainbow Fish

Tue. Mar. 12 • 10am & 12pm – Bardavon
Wed. Mar. 13 • 10am – UPAC

Grades: PreK – 2nd

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents an original stage adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s colourful story as well as two of the author’s companion tales, Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea and Opposites.

The Rainbow Fish tells the story of the most beautiful fish in the sea, whose scales shimmer in all the colours of the rainbow. He is admired by the entire underwater world, and the other fish dream of owning one of his magnificent shiny scales. Resentment and isolation ensue when he is unwilling to give any of them away, and he becomes the loneliest fish in the ocean. Following the advice of a clever octopus, he gives each fish one of his scales. The more he shares, the happier he becomes. The idea of depicting the exceptional beauty of the Rainbow Fish with shimmering silver foil came from the author himself. The result was the first picture book of its kind to appear on the market, and The Rainbow Fish took the best seller lists by storm when it was published in 1992. To date more than 30 million copies of the various Rainbow Fish volumes have been sold worldwide, in more than 50 languages. Now celebrating its twenty-fifth year of publication, The Rainbow Fish is undoubtedly one of the classic
titles of children‘s literature.

Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea highlights further adventures. When his last glittering scale falls off and sinks down into the deep sea, Rainbow Fish finds the courage to follow it into the great unknown, discovering a new world with wonderful sights and friendly creatures of all shapes, sizes and colors that are eager to make his acquaintance.

Opposites uses striking images from Rainbow Fish’s underwater wonderland to introduce very young children to the concept of opposites such as up/down, in/out, over/under, big/little, long/short. As a fitting finale, and story ends with the most satisfying opposite of all—give and take—as Rainbow Fish shares one of his shining scales with a friend.

Made possible with funding from The Beechwood Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Church Communities Foundation, George A. Strba Charitable Trust, H. W. Wilson Foundation, Kvistad Foundation, Louis Greenspan Charitable Trust, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, JM McDonald Foundation, Poughkeepsie and Kingston Community Development Block Grant, Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, Peckham Family Foundation, Rhinebeck Bank, Stewarts Shops, TD Charitable Foundation, Wells Fargo & Company, and from the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley: Anonymous Fund; Ann and Abe Effron Fund; Charlie Carroll Music Enrichment Fund; and the Dutchess Community Grants Fund. Additional support comes from the Dyson Foundation, James J. McCann Charitable Trust, Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust, NoVo Foundation, and Jeanette F. Schlobach Charitable Trust. We extend special thanks to all of the donors who contributed to the Field-Trip Fund. This program is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.