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Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round
Count up from 1 to 10.... turn
the book around, and then count down.
It's two books in one!
Children will learn to count from one to ten with this inventive, entertaining novelty book from Caldecott Honor winner Suse MacDonald! As the die-cut pages are turned, they create a lively, vibrant scene. And when little ones reach the end of the book, they'll find that they can flip it around and then count down--from ten to one!
the book around, and then count down.
It's two books in one!
Children will learn to count from one to ten with this inventive, entertaining novelty book from Caldecott Honor winner Suse MacDonald! As the die-cut pages are turned, they create a lively, vibrant scene. And when little ones reach the end of the book, they'll find that they can flip it around and then count down--from ten to one!
30 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2007
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 14, 2014
My five-year-old son checked this book out of the library. Because it's a numbers book.
I read this book at my son's bedtime last night, so it took me a second to figure out how it worked. The concept of this book is great. The illustrations for this book are fantastic. My only complaint is that the text could have been a bit stronger.
I read this book at my son's bedtime last night, so it took me a second to figure out how it worked. The concept of this book is great. The illustrations for this book are fantastic. My only complaint is that the text could have been a bit stronger.
March 4, 2016
This just didn't grab me about counting cut outs of ten fish. Each page has the fish cut out and works over top of the cutout from the page before. Bright and colorful would work for young minds best.
February 3, 2016
Very good book for beginning readers. This book was, too easy for Aaliyah, but I wanted to test her reading skills!
March 24, 2022
A good hands-on younger stoytime read. The kids in my storytime got a kick out of the book flipping around. It's a good read for numbers and colors with the fun of the cut out pages. Nothing too in-depth plot wise - it's really just a counting book - but still a good read for the younger crowd. We enjoyed it in a storytime on fish, but like I mentioned, it would be really easy to add to numbers or color themes too.
July 8, 2022
It's a counting book that can go around and around. First you count 1 to 10 then ten to 1. The words start on the bottom of the page, then you rotate the book and read the "top" of the page. It can go on forever. We only read this book once during storytime.
2022 storytime theme: Fishing
Reviewed from a library copy.
2022 storytime theme: Fishing
Reviewed from a library copy.
January 19, 2017
This is an adorable counting book featuring cut outs of fish. You can flip it around at the end and read it again. It would work well for introducing children to numbers. It is a great book to read one-on-one. I would not use it for storytime due to the smaller size of the book.
July 25, 2017
Great counting book.
November 18, 2017
This is a very cool idea! But not something I will use for storytime.
December 7, 2017
Really fun book!
December 2, 2020
Not quite a board book, but similar.
July 30, 2025
This is a fun counting book up the the number 10. When you get to the end you can flip the book over and count backwards. It can go on and on for as long as the child wants to keep counting.
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December 5, 2015Title: “Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round”
Author: Suse MacDonald
Illustrator:
Genre: Concept Book
Theme(s):
Opening line/sentence: “Follow the leader and count with me the fish that live beneath the sea.”
Brief Book Summary: This book starts by telling the reader to follow the leader (a fish), and then begins counting the different fish starting and 1 and ending at 10, however this is not the end. At first it looks like there are no pages left, but it show a fish swimming to the top of the page, and you see that if you turn the book over the book goes backwards counting from 10 to 1.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Counting from one to ten is a very popular topic in board and picture books. The challenge is to make it interesting and different from all the other books available. Suse MacDonald has created a book that counts sea creatures, but what is unique are her layered cutouts. The fish are shapes with not a lot of details, but as the pages are turned the underlying cut outs that are revealed create new images. For example, the stripes on the bodies of the two fish are part of the bodies on the next page showing three fish. As the book counts up to ten, kids are advised to turn the book around and then they start counting down from ten to one. It is circular so the counting exercise can go on as long as one would like. It is a delightful book and one that kids should really enjoy. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kirkus Reviews
The clever construction of this counting book guarantees a repeat audience: After counting up to ten, readers turn the book upside down and count back down to one, where they can begin yet again. The rhyming text is spare, keeping the focus on the counting (both numerals and word names are used), but invigorating enough to mimic the splashy action of the fish. The real draw for children, though, will be the illustrations. Ingenious fish-shaped cutouts in each page overlap to create uniquely colored and patterned fish. So unique in fact that reversing the stack to read it again results in completely different fish. Eyes and stripes are disguised within pages as bubbles and seaweed, and the brilliant colors will hold the attention of even those youngest readers who cannot yet count. Thick cardboard pages ensure that this will withstand a lot of use, thereby making it a good choice for libraries looking to expand their counting-book collection.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I really enjoyed this book. I think young readers will love this book, because it has minimal rhyming and focuses on the numbers while also being fun. Each page has cutouts that transfer to the next page (eyes, etc.), and when you flip it over it results in completely different fish.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book has great illustrations that would draw children in, and make it interactive as well with the cutouts. The font is very large and the the book has a rhyming scheme that is clever in that it contains very few words.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This is definitely a book that I will have in my classroom if I am a kindergarten teacher. It would be utilized while teaching children counting up to 10. It also could be used for addition and subtraction as well by making problems out of it (10 fish – 2 fish = how many fish)?
Author: Suse MacDonald
Illustrator:
Genre: Concept Book
Theme(s):
Opening line/sentence: “Follow the leader and count with me the fish that live beneath the sea.”
Brief Book Summary: This book starts by telling the reader to follow the leader (a fish), and then begins counting the different fish starting and 1 and ending at 10, however this is not the end. At first it looks like there are no pages left, but it show a fish swimming to the top of the page, and you see that if you turn the book over the book goes backwards counting from 10 to 1.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Counting from one to ten is a very popular topic in board and picture books. The challenge is to make it interesting and different from all the other books available. Suse MacDonald has created a book that counts sea creatures, but what is unique are her layered cutouts. The fish are shapes with not a lot of details, but as the pages are turned the underlying cut outs that are revealed create new images. For example, the stripes on the bodies of the two fish are part of the bodies on the next page showing three fish. As the book counts up to ten, kids are advised to turn the book around and then they start counting down from ten to one. It is circular so the counting exercise can go on as long as one would like. It is a delightful book and one that kids should really enjoy. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kirkus Reviews
The clever construction of this counting book guarantees a repeat audience: After counting up to ten, readers turn the book upside down and count back down to one, where they can begin yet again. The rhyming text is spare, keeping the focus on the counting (both numerals and word names are used), but invigorating enough to mimic the splashy action of the fish. The real draw for children, though, will be the illustrations. Ingenious fish-shaped cutouts in each page overlap to create uniquely colored and patterned fish. So unique in fact that reversing the stack to read it again results in completely different fish. Eyes and stripes are disguised within pages as bubbles and seaweed, and the brilliant colors will hold the attention of even those youngest readers who cannot yet count. Thick cardboard pages ensure that this will withstand a lot of use, thereby making it a good choice for libraries looking to expand their counting-book collection.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I really enjoyed this book. I think young readers will love this book, because it has minimal rhyming and focuses on the numbers while also being fun. Each page has cutouts that transfer to the next page (eyes, etc.), and when you flip it over it results in completely different fish.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book has great illustrations that would draw children in, and make it interactive as well with the cutouts. The font is very large and the the book has a rhyming scheme that is clever in that it contains very few words.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This is definitely a book that I will have in my classroom if I am a kindergarten teacher. It would be utilized while teaching children counting up to 10. It also could be used for addition and subtraction as well by making problems out of it (10 fish – 2 fish = how many fish)?
September 23, 2022
This counting book charmed my three year old so much he wouldn’t let us put it down without some argument.
After the first several reads, it made the older boys groan with displeasure. Dad can handle it though. That’s the only reason for the four stars. Good early years counting book.
After the first several reads, it made the older boys groan with displeasure. Dad can handle it though. That’s the only reason for the four stars. Good early years counting book.
September 18, 2014
Fish Swish, Splash Dash is a great counting book because of the way the book is made. This counting book counts to ten and has a theme of fish. The reader is counting the fish they see on each page. However, the pages are designed so that the picture is a cut out page, and you can see the next pages to come through the cutouts on each page. Starting with just one fish and then ending with ten fish on one page. The right side of the book is the page that children are counting the fish on. This book is designed so that at the end of the book you can turn the book around as if you are reading it backwards and read it all over again! The colors in this book are very bright and the book is very straight forward. At the end of the book it says "follow the leader and do it again!" Kids love repetition so with this book you could read it over and over to the child and it would be just as fun for them each time. Since the child is not only able to count the fish on each page but they can feel them too since the fish are cut out of the pages. The cover of the book is also very appealing because some of the words on the front cover are shiny.
January 8, 2016
Loved how you could flip the book around and it is another round. Great counting book, with lovely cut outs, just all around wonderful. Fabulous read at storytime, perfect for infants, toddlers, and beyond! Brilliant creation.
August 13, 2008
Both of my kids will sit through this one three or four times.
March 10, 2009
Great book for story time!
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December 2, 2011AFG
August 11, 2012
Follow the leader and count the fish that live beneath the sea. Turn the book upside-down and count again. cut outs throughout the book make up the shapes of the creatures under water.
April 23, 2013
This a colorful cut-out book for counting fish. It's great for young students who are learing their numbers 1-10. It also introduces students to different types of fish.
February 28, 2014
sooooo cute. and soooo repetitive. maybe you can get kids to make their own!
August 17, 2014
Cool cutouts and I like the way it flips around to read the numbers backwards and forwards.
May 14, 2015
A cut out counting book. Very colorful and unique, but never ending!!
August 1, 2019
Fun pictures and a neat idea, but it just didn't grab me.
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November 20, 2008Counting Week
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews