FICTION

Swallow the Leader

by Danna SMITH
illus. by Kevin Sherry. 32p. Clarion. Sept. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780544105188.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Through the ocean, fish after fish begins to play follow the leader. But when the line gets to 10, they all decide to play a new game: swallow the leader. Counting down from 10 to one, each fish is swallowed by the fish behind it until Shark has swallowed them all. No worries, though. Shark burps, and all of the fish come tumbling out to play their game again. This is a fun counting book with rhyming text that details the marine adventures as the fish add new members to their group. The illustrations are a mixture of traditional Sherry-style drawings done on multicolored papers that are sometimes solid and other times textured. Other details are added in a collage fashion, including seaweed and puffer fishes.
VERDICT Readers will enjoy listening to the story and counting up and down as fish are added and swallowed. As the shark quips, "Delish!"
Reviewed by Paige Garrison, Augusta Richmond County Library System, GA
An underwater exploration with a read-aloud-perfect counting rhyme nearly turns deadly when a school of fish playing follow-the-leader encounters the top of their food chain; one by one the shark eats ten fish until a "BURRRP!" brings them all back. Bright, playful illustrations--created in layers using watercolor backgrounds, paper cutouts, and paint on acetate sheets--match the book's silly tone.
 , Sep 01, 2016

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Maddie and Mabel Ready for Snow
by Allen, Kari
BOOKS

Welcome to the Woofmore
by Gephart, Donna & Lori Haskins Houran
BOOKS

Eleven Houses
by Oakes, Colleen
BOOKS

Don’t Let the Forest In
by Drews, CG
BOOKS

Summer Nights and Meteorites
by Reynolds, Hannah
BOOKS

A Vile Season
by Ferraro, David
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?