Simple story gives preschoolers a lesson in sharing

Guest reader Susie Haver seemed to love the story of “Rainbow Fish” as much as her young audience this morning at  Neighbor to Neighbor.

The preschoolers were eager for the monthly installment of  “Reading with Friends” to begin, and Haver complied, bringing the characters to life in the award-winning story by Swiss author and illustrator Marcus Pfiester. With advice from a wise octopus, Rainbow Fish transforms from beautiful but lonely to generous and happy.

In explaining the message of the book, Pfister said, “I want to show our children the positive aspect of sharing,. To share does not only mean to give away something — which is quite hard for a child to do — but to make someone else happy.”

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The monthly “Reading with Friends” storytimes for children ages 3, 4 and 5. Each session includes playtime and a snack, plus children receive a free copy of that day’s book to take home. 

There is a limit of 30 children per session so parents must register for each session in advance by calling Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or emailing neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org. The remaining sessions for the 2016-17 school year are March 10 and April 7.

The monthly program, which has been part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012, is funded in part by a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Fund, through the Community Foundation for Cloud County.