In the Swim[ IN THE SWIM ] By Florian, Douglas ( Author )Apr-01-2001 Paperback

by Douglas Florian

Grab your snorkel and splash along with the outrageous underwater creatures described in 21 lively poems. Full color.

Genres: Poetry, Animals, Picture Books, Childrens, Art, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Kayla Nannariello]

1) Awards: none

2) Age Range: 7-11

3) Summary: "In the Swim" consist of about 20 poems about underwater life. Each poem is told from the perspective of a different sea creature

4) Review: I liked the illustrations and the way the poems were formatted. But, I don't think I would use this book in my class. I think there are better example of poetry for children

5) In Class Use: Some of the poems could be use as examples of including a simple rhyme scheme when writing poetry

[Victoria DeJesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn't have any awards. The appropriate grade level is Pre-K-1st. This book is a collection of poems about underwater creatures. From toothy piranhas and regal rays to itty-bitty tetras.I like this book because it gives you so many details about the creatures. It makes you feel like you as the readers are right there. A possible class use is when your theme is the sea.

[Susan Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first introduction to Douglas Florian's work years back. I was immediately charmed, the art is beautiful and quirky and very child friendly and accessible, the poems are witty and smart, sometimes silly but always enjoyable in an Ogden Nash sort of humor.

[Kelly Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Poetry book about different fish. Poems are short and easy to understand. This is a great primer for teaching poetry.

[Ms. Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4th grader review
"I rated this book 5 stars because: starfish have 5 legs. My favorite part they regrow two legs." TH

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To all the teachers and parents out there: my 20-year old son just texted and asked, “What book was that poem you read to me about the flounder in, again?” These poems are fun and stick in the memory! My favourite is the one about the blenny.

[Nicole Raabe]

1) awards: None

2) Age Range: 1st-4th grade

3) Summary: This book contains a collection of about 23 poems. Each informs the reader about different types of fish and sea animals. The poems are short and humorous, and accompanied by a fun illustration.

4) Review: I would definitely include this book in my future class. I had fun reading it and learned some new things that I did not know about sea animals. The poems were short enough for a young reader to understand without feeling overwhelmed, but still very informative and fun.

5) In Class Use:
-Show the student examples of poems
-Have them create their own with their favorite sea animal or fish
-Learning about marine life and the environment

[Chris Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Student Name: Chris Maynard

Purpose: Poetry/Anthology (Wide Reading Project)

Genre: Poetry

Format: Picture Book

Grades: Pre-K - Primary and even Intermediate (depending on purpose)

Subjects/themes: See the bookshelves above.

School Use: Like Insectlopedia, In the Swim is another great resource for the primary classroom, offering great potential as a read aloud for students learning about the different types of fish in oceans and/or lakes and rivers. It would be really cool to supplement Florian's paintings of different fish like the sawfish, angler, etc. with real pictures of these fish, perhaps in a Powerpoint Presentation. Additionally, this book would be something that I would use with older students learning how to write poetry, specifically form poetry, with poems like The Salmon, which mimics how salmon move up stream, and The Sawfish, which looks like a buzz saw, perfect examples of this type of poetry.

Review: Douglas Florian has been a pleasant discovery as an author/illustrator study this semester, with In the Swim providing his creative take on 21 different types of fish. Quite simply, (and as written in my review of Insectlopedia), Florian's poetry is a joy to read. Even though you can read his poems quickly, there is a lot to think about if you take the time in terms of presentation and how the text works in each poem. With all that said, I'll leave you with my favorite poem from this collection, the short and sweet The Blenny.

There are uglier fish than a blenny --

But not many.

-- Douglas Florian

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well read book in our house. We like fish. Besides the bazillion fish tanks my daughter (who rescues fish, long story) has set up all over the house to hold crazy beta fish in roomy watery splendor, we also just plain old like fish. My oldest two grew up just blocks away from The Maritime Center in Norwalk, Ct - and we practically lived there. So it was fitting that my first introduction to the kindly warm and wonderful wit of Sir Florian was this book. I have since gone on to adore his other works and my admiration for his succinct and intelligent humor just keeps humming along...

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

IN THE SWIM is a collection of witty poems and gentle paintings. Douglas Florian uses humor and watercolors to depict 21 different water animals. From the common salmon to the itty bitty tetra, his collection is unique and diverse. Florian has a number of poetry collections and I find them all to be perfect for younger audiences and a great starting block for projects. The right poem and painting can inspire curiosity and desire to look more closely. From factual information about starfish lacking a brain, to the silliness of a shark looking for a parking spot - this is an imaginative book from cover to cover.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is full of short, funny poems about all sorts of sea animals and fish. One of my favorite poems is:

The Piranhas
It's widely known
That grown piranhas
Are long on teeth
But short on manners.
(c) Douglas Florian

Kids will laugh at the different poems and paintings Florian creates. Another favorite explains the sawfish: "My spendid saw's/ for goring fishes-/ I eat them raw/ And don't do dishes." For a fuller look, check out Google Books where you can preview some of the artwork with their poems.

[Jon Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun poetry book is great as an introductory look at poetry. I think that it is important to teach students that poetry can be fun and about everyday things an animals. This book has a separate page devoted to different fish and animals found in the sea. This book is a great for showing presentation, voice and word choice traits in a book.

Reading level: 3.2

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

love his style. big ideas in small packages. simple text describes animals. all of his books are excellent

[Lauren Richards]

I loved this book - I read the whole thing instead of just one poem. Some were very creative; I loved the poems in the shapes of the animals. I remember reading "Seahorse" and "catfish."

[RaeLene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cat Fish: A humorous poem about how a cat fish does not look or act like a cat.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each poem is about a different fish. Absolutely wonderful for kids to learn the names of fish.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a poetry book about fish. It has some written in dramatic ways such as shapes.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard fare from Florian, comical drawings and fun, free verse poems.

[Larysa · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Ray"