Swallow the Leader Lap: A Playful Rhyming Story about Counting Fish from 1 to 10 in the Ocean for Toddlers

by Danna Smith, Kevin Sherry (Illustrator)

An expressive group of cheerful fish play follow the leader in their ocean habitat, unaware that a shark lurks in the background. Count the fish from one to ten as each joins the game, then count back down to one when the leader snacks on a sea spider and sets off an unfortunate chain reaction (swallow the leader!). Luckily for everyone, fish number ten--the shark--gulps down his prey too quickly, and burrrrrrrp! they all swim out again. Lively rhymed text and energetic artwork combine in this exuberant counting book that's sure to delight little ones learning their numbers.

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Storytime, Childrens, Animals, Number, Fiction

30 pages, Board Book

First published September 6, 2016

About the author

When Danna was a child, her favorite “toy” was a pencil. Today, she is a poet and award-winning author of over twenty-five books for children. Danna lives in northern California with her husband, children, and grandchildren. For more information about her books and teaching activities, visit her website at www.dannadmithbooks.com.

Reviews

[Gregory Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my son's new favorite book. It's a counting book that takes the reader from 1 to 10 and back down again with a surprise ending.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, simple, and would make a great read aloud for younger audiences.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This clever counting book gives an undersea game of “Follow the Leader” a whole new twist. Flag-bearing fish 1 begins the marine parade and fishes 2-9 follow him eagerly. The leader guides their course through the water using rhyming text to describe what sea creature they should emulate: “hide from a shark,” “trot like a sea horse,” “hurdle a turtle” etc. Fish number 10 just happens to be a shark, and when they see fish 1 eat a “sea snack”, each in turn “swallows the leader” until the shark has devoured them all, reversing the count from ten to one. But, not to worry. The shark issues a mighty burp and the nine fish come tumbling out, none the worse for wear. The last page shows fish 1 relinquishing his leader position for yet another counting parade. The illustrations feature bright, simply drawn fish with big eyes swimming around in an ocean inhabited by more muted sea creatures. The book is an ideal choice for story time, counting and ocean study. It’s a visual treat.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile I hear about a picture book author I'm not familiar with. I somehow heard about Danna Smith on social media and decided to check out her titles. I've read 4 so far and each one is solid. Her rhyme skills are great, read smoothly and her books are entertaining.
Even the one I read that wasn't in rhyme was terrific.

In this particular book, Swallow the Leader, I felt it was fun, funny, had an educational element as well as a surprise ending. All the ingredients needed for a great picture book read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In perfect rhyme we follow the leader, swimming into coral caves, riding waves, flapping like a ray, and puffing like a blowfish. But as the school of fish grows, the reader watches a shark swim nearby and become fish number ten! Suddenly the game turns into “Swallow the Leader”…but don’t despair, the surprise ending will delight children into peals of laughter! They’ll want to read it again and again.

Big, bold colorful fish swim through watercolor backgrounds making this a visual delight—an opportunity to practice both numbers and colors!

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great with counting practice but towards the end it becomes a swallow the leader and the fish start to eat the smaller fish in front of them to go from 19 back down to one. My toddler got upset with that. It manages to redeem itself when the shark burps all the fish back up at the end and everyone is back together but still...

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute could be good for sea storytime. Good pictures, a lot of potential for movement during the story, funny ending.

[Eme87 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for counting and follow the leader. Would make a great storytime obstacle course.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute counting book. Counts up to ten, following the leader, then back down to 1, swallowing the leader. In the end, the shark burps everyone out, so all is well.

[Delphine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storytime perfect 🤓

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smith, Danna. Swallow the Leader: A Counting Book, PICTURE BOOK. Clarion Books, 2016. $16.99.

Ten fish count themselves in the ocean as they swim along. They rhyme and chant and hide from predators together. Once they get to ten a shark comes along and snatches them up, one by one. At the very end, the shark burps all the fish up again.

I was a little bored by this book through the beginning, but I have to say that the shark eating the fish did take me by surprise. Not an essential buy, but still a fun one if you are able.

EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by: Shay, School Librarian

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. I think it will make a great read aloud for the 3-5 year olds. You could also incorporate into a STEM type theme for counting up and counting down. Bright, colorful fishies and a fun ending.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes to self: Skip the last page in story time, because it's not necessary to start over. Use a shark puppet to grab fish cut-out shapes that are stuck on the board. Read the book, but add the cut-out fish to the board as you go to take away later.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Count to 10 as fish come out to play, tension builds when 7 fish hide from a shark. The tenth fish is a shark and it turns to swallow the leader to count back down. Twist: he burps them out. Rhyming couplets start with “follow the leader”

[S.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and a lot of fun! A perfect story for the youngest in your list. Cleverly written and beautifully illustrated. I love the cute fishes, the counting up to ten and counting down, and the twist at the end.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Counts up to ten and then back down to 1 by ones. Numerals, no number words. Always clearly countable.

Along the way, you see lots of other ocean life, and there's something of a story, not just counting. And a side lesson about taking turns being a leader of a game.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great counting up and down that worked great in a family storytime. (This could also be adapted to be acted out using stacking cups to show the "eating.") Simple text allows Sherry's illustrations to carry the story. And no one dies in storytime!

[Jen Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun times with this rhyming book! Once your young reader figures out the pattern, they'll feel empowered when the book reaches its satisfying conclusion. A quick read they'll want to come back to again and again!

[Joy Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun!

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pure silly, math fun.

5/16/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun for story time and counting books lessons.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be great for storytime

[Clementine · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny and mirrors the "slippery fish" rhyme pretty well. definitely could use this in an ocean storytime.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A counting book wherein a shark eats all of the fish. Spoiler: the shark then burps up all of the fish. (I would have preferred just the darker humor of everyone being eaten, but oh well.)

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Themes: counting forward and backward, fish

[IfCatsCouldRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun counting book with rhymes and a surprise ending.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun counting book!

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute counting book. Fun idea.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun counting book where the fish play follow the leader unaware of the shark following them.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicious counting book told in rhyme.