Weekly Book Series: Ocean

Just keep swimming…right on over to check out our ocean-themed book pick below!

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

From the publisher:

Deep in the sea lives a happy school of fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.

Frequent speech sounds in the book include:

• initial “sw” (e.g., Swimmy)

• medial /m/ (e.g., Swimmy)

• initial /f/ (e.g., fish)

• final “sh” (e.g., fish)

Key language concepts in the book include:

• Sequencing: order of sea creatures that Swimmy discovers

• Vocabulary: creature, escape, darting, fierce, gulp, lonely, marvel, medusa, mussel, sea, swift

• Figurative Language: similes, metaphors

• Grammar: adjectives, irregular past tense verbs

• Problem Solving: Swimmy uses his knowledge of the sea to help the other fish overcome their fears

• Inferencing: make some guesses - How did Swimmy feel when his siblings were eaten, as he swam in the ocean, when he saw another school of fish like his own, when the fish would not explore with him, at the end, etc.?

• Social/Emotional: Swimmy did not let sad events or challenges prevent him from being happy or doing the things he enjoys.

For a fun extension activity, this book pairs well with Finding Nemo!

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