The Rainbow Fish | A Story About Sharing and Kindness

In a colorful corner of the ocean lived a fish so dazzling, even the sunlight stopped to admire him. But true beauty, as Rainbow Fish would discover, shines brightest when shared.

The Rainbow Fish

Far beneath the waves, where the coral bloomed like underwater gardens, there lived a fish unlike any other. His name was Rainbow Fish, and his scales shimmered in every color of the rainbow—emerald greens, fiery reds, deep purples, and golden flecks that sparkled like tiny suns.

Whenever Rainbow Fish passed by, the ocean seemed to pause. The seaweed waved more gently, the bubbles glimmered in awe, and the other fish stared in silent admiration.

“Wow,” sighed Finn, a young striped fish. “He’s like a swimming jewel!”

Rainbow Fish loved the attention. He twirled, flicked his tail dramatically, and sometimes paused in just the right light to let his scales gleam even brighter. But when other fish swam closer and asked for a single scale, he turned cold.

“Share? With you?” he’d say, swimming off. “Why dull my shine?”

At first, the fish forgave him. Maybe he was just shy. But as days passed, the joy of watching Rainbow Fish turned to sadness. He never played tag in the kelp forests, never joined in games, and never smiled at anyone. He was beautiful—but alone.

One day, little Finn gathered his courage and swam up to him. “Rainbow Fish,” he said softly, “could I maybe have one of your shiny scales? Just one. It would mean so much.”

Rainbow Fish blinked, stunned. “Give away my special scales? You must be joking.”

Finn’s face fell. “Okay,” he whispered, turning away.

After that, things changed. The other sea creatures stopped inviting Rainbow Fish to explore the shipwreck caves or race with the dolphins. Even the jellyfish ignored him. The ocean was still just as blue, his scales just as brilliant—but it all felt…dimmer.

He floated alone near the coral cliff until an old, wise creature noticed him. Luna, the deep-sea octopus, lived tucked inside a crevice draped in sea moss and mystery. She rarely spoke, but when she did, everyone listened.

Rainbow Fish approached her hesitantly. “Everyone avoids me now. I don’t understand. I’m still the same.”

Luna’s voice echoed softly, like the tide whispering to the shore. “You are the same… but that’s the problem. You’ve kept all your beauty to yourself. What good is light if it doesn’t help others see?”

Rainbow Fish frowned. “But if I give away my scales, I won’t be special anymore.”

Luna gave a small smile. “You’ll be more special. You’ll be loved.”

Her words lingered like bubbles in the water. That night, Rainbow Fish couldn’t sleep. He remembered Finn’s hopeful eyes, the laughter of the other fish, the empty feeling in his chest.

The next morning, he swam to where Finn was playing alone.

“Finn?” he called gently. “Would you still like one of my scales?”

Finn looked up, surprised. “Really?”

Rainbow Fish nodded and, with a flutter of his fin, plucked one shimmering scale and gave it to Finn.

It caught the sunlight and glittered like a treasure.

“Thank you!” Finn beamed. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had.”

Something warm spread in Rainbow Fish’s chest. It felt better than being admired—it felt good.

As he swam back through the reef, other fish watched in awe. When he gave a second scale to a shy seahorse, and a third to a little yellow tang, something magical happened.

The ocean began to sparkle—not just with his scales, but with joy.

Every fish he gifted a scale to smiled brighter, swam closer, and soon, they were all playing together. Games of hide and seek among the coral, storytelling near the clam beds, and group races with the waves. Rainbow Fish laughed for the first time in forever.

His body shimmered a little less, but his heart shone more than ever before.

By the end of the week, Rainbow Fish had shared his scales with so many that he only had a few left. But the ocean now glittered with dozens of glimmers, each one a reminder of a friendship earned.

And Rainbow Fish? He had never felt more beautiful.

Create Your Own Rainbow Fish
Draw or cut out a fish on paper. Use shiny foil, glitter, or stickers for the scales. As a group activity, have kids “share” their shiny materials with others to build everyone’s fish—just like Rainbow Fish shared his beauty!

Moral of the Story

🌟 True beauty lies not in what you keep, but in what you give. Sharing brings happiness that shines far brighter than anything else.