Author: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Clarion Books, 2001 (Brdbk ed.)
ISBN: 978-0152162818
Reading Level: 3 through 5 years
Reading Level: 3 through 5 years
Main Characters: Many interesting fish and one small fish at the bottom of each page.
Plot: A simple 1 to 10 counting style book that teaches early math concepts such as number words and symbols, basic addition, and relationships between numbers. A small fish introduces the other fish while counting them and adding himself.
Genre/Theme/Style: Counting 1-10, simple math, fish, nature, and underwater fun.
I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁
Why 5 Roars? I love this book! It can be used to teach basic math concepts, big and small,
colors, sizes, and shapes, and incorporated into theme units like water, eyes, or nature. It works well at keeping the reader's attention.
The only thing I would remind readers is that the pages can be easily torn from children putting their fingers in the cutouts. That can be easily solved by purchasing it as a board book. The board book is a nice solution and a great way to save a few bucks.
Critical Analysis: The interesting artwork, vivid color selection, and surprise
cutouts for kids to find will keep younger readers learning without the book
feeling like work.
The small fish is such a big part of why small
children identify with the story. There are many different kinds, colors, sizes, and shapes of fish moving around the small fish in his underwater world. This feels
very similar to small children exploring all of the differences in their own environments.
The book has an easy rhythm that helps the reader along, and of course, who doesn’t love "all of those fish eyes looking at me"? Young readers will ask for this one over and over.
Every so often, you find a book that you have to experience for yourself to fully appreciate its value. This is one of those books.
Connections: Fish Eyes:A Book You Can Count On Read-A-Long