Pistes d'exploration

Follow along as the book is read aloud and rewrite the equations on the number pages into mathematical language (e.g. “6 fantailed fish plus me makes 7” becomes 6 + 1 = 7).

Write the number words onto index cards. Play the Concentration game for reading practice.

Find the descriptive words in the book and add them to a class anchor chart.

Create sentences about favourite animals using words from the class chart.

Make a class counting book using a different animal. 

Notice the colours and the number of fish on each page. Discuss the question at the end of the story: “If you could truly have a wish, would you wish to be a fish?” What could you do if you were a fish for a day?

Draw a fish and label its parts (mouth, eyes, fins, gills, scales, tail . . .). Use words from the book to describe your fish: adjectives (colours, striped, spotted, fantailed, skinny, flashy) and verbs (jumping, smiling, flipping, darting).

Create a class counting book: Draw fish made of different shapes (circles, ovals, squares, triangles) and use a variety of bright colours.

Happy

Mots-clés

Picture book , adjectives , colours , counting , fish , stories in rhyme

Commentaire descriptif

“If you could truly have a wish, would you wish to be a fish?” A small olive-drab fish invites readers to dive underwater and “Swim along through this book with me” where they will find pages full of vibrantly coloured fish. Just waiting to be counted by eager young learners are one green fish, two jumping fish, three smiling fish and other striped, fan-tailed or darting creatures of the sea. In each case, readers who look closely will find the plain little fellow off in the corner, inviting readers to add him to the count as well: “8 skinny fishplus me makes 9.” The full-bleed artwork on each double-page spread consists of paper collage fish set against a deep blue background, and includes cut out holes for the eyes. Brilliant tropical hues and graphic design make this a visually stunning book for children just learning to count from 1 to 10, and creative hands will itch to get out the glue and construction paper to design their own richly decorated fish.