‘I do not like this book’: Teacher’s message about iconic story

There are plenty of books from our childhood that looking back, don’t really hit the same way they did when you look at it with a more critical eye. 
But one teacher has a very hot take about the iconic story The Rainbow Fish, published in 1992 by Swiss author Marcus Pfister – admitting he doesn’t like the book at all. 
Teacher Mr. Vương, who shares plenty of insight into his teaching career on TikTok, explained why he doesn’t like the message and how he uses it to teach a very different lesson now. 
“I do not like this book: The Rainbow Fish. The illustrations are great, and I think the author had good intentions,” he began.
Watch the video above.
Mr Vương then explained a bit about the plot and it starts to make sense. 
“Rainbow Fish is full of himself because when all the other fish wanted to play with him, he sort of swam past them and thought he was better,” he explained. 
“Then one of the fish asked for one of his scales and he refuses, which in my opinion, I think he has the right to do that because he doesn’t have to give up part of himself or anybody.”
Mr Vương believes a better message for the book is that the Rainbow Fish has a lack of humility and a bit of an ego, but also that changing yourself will make people like you. 
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“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. Rainbow Fish realises that he should share, so he does that with all of the fish and then they give him acceptance,” he continued. 
Ultimately he gets accepted into the group because the fish gave up something that made him special, but he had to change to get people to like him. 
Mr Vương explained he still uses the book in his classroom, but focusing on a different perspective. 
He said he uses it now to teach the kids how to think critically about themes and they picked up on what’s happening. 
“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?'” he said.  
“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,” he added. 
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He finished the video with, “Just because it has an award-winning sticker on it, it does not make it top-notch.”
The hot take definitely ruffled some feathers in the comments section of his TikTok, but a lot of people agreed that looking at the story now as an adult, it hits differently. 
“Childhood me loves this book. Grown up me sees the problematic story. So I’m torn. Same for the Giving Tree,” replied one person.
Another commented, “literally, it’s a story about having to give up parts of yourself so other people will be friends with you. Until you run out and then they leave.”
“…and now I know where I learned to be a people pleaser from,” commented another TikToker.
One disagreed and commented, “I’m pretty sure the scales are supposed to be a metaphor for pride. he gave up his pride, because that was his flaw. He “bought” by selling his pride.”
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