Swimmy

Title: Swimmy

Author: Leo Lionni

Genre: Fiction

Ages: 6-10

Summary: This story is about a school of fish who get swallowed by a big black fish. Only one fast fish escaped and became very lonely until he met the other animals of the sea. He met a school of red fish where he became the eye of the the group and they swam around in the shape of a big fish in order to not get eaten.

About the author: He was born May 5, 1910 in a suburb of Amsterdam . He started drawing at the age of nine and continued to do so turning his drawings into stories.

Theme/skill: Working together

Pre-reading activity: Is it easier to do things with a group of friends alone? Why? Which do you prefer? Lift a bucket of rocks with a partner. Then alone. Which is easier?

Post-reading activity: Give each students an outline of a fish and fish stamps with a red and black ink pad. Have the students stamp a black eye and the rest red. 

I liked this book because it shows working together can usually be easier then working solo. It is nicely written and illustrated.