Description A new addition to the Rainbow Fish series, beloved by children around the world for 20 years — set to be published in 12 countries worldwide. The picture book Rainbow Fish has left an indelible mark on the hearts of children everywhere, forever linking the name Marcus Pfister to their memories. Children have long been captivated by the sparkling, silver-scaled Rainbow Fish, listening eagerly to his exciting deep-sea adventures and heartwarming stories of friendship. 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of the very first Rainbow Fish book. Since its debut in 1992, Rainbow Fish has been cherished by children around the world, inspiring a total of six captivating stories over the years. Rainbow Fish, Mommy Will Protect You is the seventh book in the beloved Rainbow Fish series, carrying forward its enduring charm. Despite tackling the familiar theme of a 'bedtime story' often found in picture books for young children, this title has garnered widespread attention, with publication planned in 12 countries including Korea, Japan, China, the United States, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. (The Korean edition was published first worldwide, followed by Japan, with China, Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States to follow.) Marcus Pfister, who has said, "I want to be an author who delivers warm messages to children," once again demonstrates his artistic philosophy in this work. He tenderly captures children's feelings of unease and comforts and encourages them in "just the right way." Through the story of Baby Rainbow Fish and Mother Rainbow Fish, he warmly illustrates what parents should truly mean to their children. The World of Night: A Source of Anxiety and Fear for Everyone Everyone has experienced tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep — whether from physical exhaustion or from thoughts about friends, schoolwork, or daily worries that crowd the mind after a busy day. Bedtime brings not only our bodies but also our thoughts and feelings to a stop. Yet this stillness, meant to bring peace at night, can sometimes stir up new anxieties and fears instead. Thoughts that never surfaced during the busy daylight hours — buried deep in the subconscious — often rise to the surface at bedtime. This is exactly what happens to Rainbow Fish. Like any other child, Rainbow Fish tries to fall asleep at bedtime, but when sleep won't come, he grows troubled. Unable to see anything in the darkness, he becomes anxious, worrying about getting lost or being attacked, his mind filling with all sorts of fears and fantasies. According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the need for safety is the second most fundamental human need, right after basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Through Rainbow Fish's vivid imaginings, the author speaks to the deep, often unconscious longing for safety that lives within every child. What Sleepless Children Truly Need: Love and Trust While adults think of night as simply a 'time' for sleep, children experience it as an 'experiential space' they must pass through. That's why, when darkness falls and they can no longer see, children who seemed so bold and confident during the day suddenly become anxious and tense. They fear that closing their eyes might change the world around them, or that they themselves might disappear somewhere. Lying still with their eyes closed, yet unable to quiet their racing minds — just like Rainbow Fish — children often can't settle down at bedtime either. Sometimes they ask question after question, without fully understanding where their own anxiety and restlessness come from. Noticing this, Mother Rainbow Fish gently asks, "What's wrong?" In response to why he can't sleep, Rainbow Fish offers many different answers — and within those answers, both Rainbow Fish and his mother come to understand the real question underneath: "why." "Mom, will you stay with me just a little while?" "I'm always with you." "Do you promise?" "Yes. Cross my heart and hope to fly!" In the end, what Rainbow Fish truly needed was the certainty of safety — the unwavering assurance of a love that would always protect him. Sensing Rainbow Fish's deep longing for love and trust, his mother makes her heartfelt promise and wraps him in a warm embrace. Every child in the world has, at some point, whispered, "Mom...