Swimmy – Leo Lionni

Swimmy is a tiny black fish in a school living in a reef.  One day his school is devoured by a large fish and Swimmy, the fastest of the fish, is the only one to survive.  He swims about the ocean and reef looking for companionship.  He wonders at all of the delightful creatures in the ocean.  Happily, he finds a new school of red fish.  They are cowering in a dark corner, afraid to swim out where they could be eaten by larger fish.  Swimmy convinces them to learn to swim together in the shape of a large fish.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: courage, cooperation, creativity, solving problems

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

Swimmy lesson plans

An Extraordinary Egg – Leo Lionni

Jessica is a dreamy frog. She lives with her two sisters and often wanders around the pond wondering at all the marvelous things in the world.  One day she finds an extraordinary pebble and brings it to the pond.  Her sisters inform her the pebble is in fact a chicken egg.  They wait excitedly for the hatching of the egg.  They love the chicken which is in fact an alligator.  They become fast friends with the ‘chicken’.  A bird helps the frogs return the baby ‘chicken’ to her mother.  The mother welcomes her baby alligator and the frogs laugh and laugh at the funny name she gives her baby.
Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Science

Themes/Topics: eggs, friendship, the unexpected

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3