This is a very cute story about teamwork with great illustrations. As a marine biologist, I appreciate the way this book lets younger readers connect with some of the potential problems that come from commercial fishing. My 4 year old and I both enjoyed reading it together!

This is a great addition to any Rainbow Fish collection or a great place to start your Rainbow Fish book collection!

Thank you to NorthSouth Books Inc. and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape follows Rainbow Fish and his friends as they get caught is ‘trawl nets’. While stuck Rainbow Fish hatches a plan. With the help of the lobsters and crabs, Rainbow Fish and the others make a great escape!

Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape is a story all about teamwork!

As always, the illustrations for Rainbow Fish are great-colorful and feature a lot of sea creatures!

Thank you to NorthSouth Books Inc. and Netgalley for a copy of this book!

Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape releases October 7th, 2025-mark your calendar!

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced release copy of this book. Little heavy of a topic, but I liked it being set to the Rainbow Fish.

I really enjoyed Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape!
What a clever story and beautifully illustrated.
The message is also very powerful and helps children understand the challenges our planet faces.
I would highly recommend this book as it is the perfect length to keep children’s attention.
I can see them asking their parents to read and reread this book.

Rainbow fish is a favorite in our house, and this was no exception. It was a clever and quick read, perfect for bedtime stories. My son has made me read this story almost every night over the last week, so I'm pretty sure he also loved the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Northsouth books for giving me the opportunity to read and review Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape. It is a wonderful book that is not only beautifully illustrated but has a message that everyone could appreciate. This book would be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages.

This book is absolutely stunning, as expected and in alignment with The Rainbow Fish. The colorful illustrations are eye catching. We loved looking at all the fish and the crabs. I did not know there are 10 Rainbow Fish books, so I’ll definitely be checking out others in the series.

From a story perspective, it almost felt like a couple pages were missing. The story jumps to conclusion rather rapidly and abruptly. The storyline is very obviously about conservation and fighting overfishing, but there was also opportunity to wrap a lesson in responsible fishing and conservation of our oceans, caring for coral reefs, etc. in a way young kids would understand. That said, we still enjoyed the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect story to illustrate to kids how the things we do impact the environment around us. It also showed the power of teamwork work and critical thinking. While this was a little more advanced for my youngest reader, he was still able to enjoy the story thanks to how well the illustrations show the stories progression. Speaking of illustrations, they were gorgeous as usual with this series.

I liked this SO much more than the original Rainbow Fish book. Three cheers for letting Rainbow Fish be a hero instead of a doormat! Really though, my toddler will love to have this added to his collection. Well done, and beautiful illustrations as usual.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The illustrations of this story are beautifully done. They are detailed capturing all the emotions, and their colors are eye catching which is appealing to the reader.

I do feel that the verbiage used in this may be a bit challenging for younger children to be able to read this on their own.

I feel that this story teaches two lessons. The first lesson which is that with teamwork and problem solving, you will be able overcome any obstacle; this is a lesson that a lot of stories touch on. The second lesson is the impact of the fishing industry has had on the ocean’s ecosystem; this lesson may not be taught in other stories. I feel that it will be an impacting story.

Thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth books for allowing me to read and ARC of this one. I’ve always been a fan of the Rainbow Fish and this one was no expectation! I loved the illustrations in this one. We will definitely be adding this one to my boys library when it comes out!

The Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister is a great addition to the Rainbow Fish series. It teaches children about the environmental impacts of the fishing industry (not that this is how all fishermen practice). It also teaches children about working together as a team to accomplish a common goal. My son loves these stories and this one was no exception. I received an eARC from NorthSouth Books Inc. through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister in exchange for an honest review..Fans of Rainbow Fish Will live this new installment when Rainbow Fish has to have quick thinking when he and his friends get caught in a trawler’s Net.Great story of teamwork and working together for a common goal! Perfect read for preschoolers!

Overall: TBD

This was a little preachy-er than last stories with it's story line. I'm not sure if the weight of the story connects well with the targeted age range.

"Mom's" Review

"A's" Review

"C's" Review

"Dad's" Review

(Full Traveling Book Family reviews to come!)

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/06/24/book-review-rainbow-fish-and-the-great-escape-written-and-illustrated-by-marcus-pfister-translated-by-david-henry-wilson/

The book the Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister is a very appropriate book for children 6+ who are not requiring as many pictures and has a net in it catching the fish.

The original The Rainbow Fish is an iconic classic. This story returns to that undersea world which is beautifully illustrated. When a large trawling net sweeps up fish of all sizes it takes team work and the efforts of many to devise an escape. The story is simple and the illustrations, with the colorful rainbow fish, enhance the storytelling. This can easily be read to younger readers and spark conversations about empathy, team work, caring for the environment and more. This would be a good addition for classrooms and children’s libraries.

As an educator and avid reader, the original Rainbow Fish is one of my favorite picture books. Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape would be an excellent addition to my classroom library. With his signature style, Marcus Pfister has continued the adventures of Rainbow Fish in a new way.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

ARC Review:

The Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister | Translated by Henry Wilson
Publisher: NorthSouth Books (English) / Marcus Pfister (Original German)
Publication Date: October 7, 2025
Pages: 32
Genre: Children’s Picture Book (Ages 4–8)

⸻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

🌟 Review

I had the pleasure of reading an advance reader copy of The Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape thanks to NetGalley, and I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunity to enjoy this thoughtful and visually captivating story ahead of its official release.

In this new installment of the beloved Rainbow Fish series, Marcus Pfister once again invites young readers into an underwater world rich with vibrant imagery and meaningful themes. This beautifully illustrated picture book centers around important values such as kindness, empathy, and the power of working together in difficult times. The story is age-appropriate, engaging, and gently delivers moral lessons that resonate without feeling heavy-handed.

Pfister’s storytelling is wonderfully complemented by his iconic, shimmering artwork. Each page bursts with color and emotion, pulling readers into the story and offering an immersive visual experience that will appeal to both children and adults alike. The illustrations do more than just accompany the text—they elevate the story’s emotional impact and help drive home its core messages.

One of the highlights of this book is its ability to spark conversation. Whether read at home, in classrooms, or during library storytimes, The Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape encourages discussions about cooperation, compassion, and problem-solving—all within a context that’s accessible and engaging for young readers.

💬 Final Thoughts

A must-have addition to any child’s bookshelf, The Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape is a heartwarming and visually stunning story that blends timeless values with charming storytelling. I read this with my almost 6-year-old, and while he found some of the vocabulary a bit challenging to read aloud independently, he was fully engaged in the story and excited to learn new words. It turned into a shared reading experience that was both educational and meaningful—a testament to the book’s value beyond simple entertainment.

📖 Thank you to NetGalley, Marcus Pfister, and NorthSouth Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review

The rainbow fish and friends are being captured by a net, which is also destroying the ocean floor. See what happens when the rainbow fish calls upon its friends to help. My children enjoyed this.