IN THE SWIM

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 1997. IN THE SWIM. San Diego: Harcourt Inc. ISBN: 0152024379

 

PLOT SUMMARY

IN THE SWIM by Douglas Florian features 21 playful and informative poems that all gather around the topic of sea creatures.  Familiar sea animals like the catfish and whale are included as well as little known creatures such as the blenny.  Each poem uses witty language to describe the characteristics of the sea animal which makes them fun and interesting to read.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This collection of poems is written in a format that children will enjoy.  Each poem is short, but filled with unique details about each animal that will not only entertain kids, but also educate them.  Florian uses rhyming patterns throughout his poems such as in "The Catfish"- "I cannot purr./ I don't have fur/ or claws or paws."  Free verse poems are also included.   Most of the poems are written in a standard format, but "The Sawfish" is written in a zig-zag shape representing the shape of a sawfish's teeth and "The Salmon" is written to be read from bottom to top representing the salmon's upstream swim referenced in the poem.

Florian uses the names of the sea creatures to create metaphors that the children will understand and enjoy.  For example in "The Sea Horse" he compares a seahorse to a horse, "You have/ No hooves./ You have no hair./ You don't eat oats./ You don't breathe air./ You hatch from eggs..."  He does a great job of comparing two unrelated creatures that are similar only in their names.

Each poem included in IN THE SWIM is written on one page and a watercolor illustration of the sea creature the poem is about is on the adjacent page.  The illustrations are beautiful watercolor paintings that take up the entire page and play into the humor of the poems.  The illustration for "The Sea Horse," for example, shows seahorses that are wearing bridles and saddles and are on a racetrack.   These details in the illustrations complement the humor in the poetry that the kids will love.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

"What's unusual here is the sheer, unforced playfulness, the ease and fluidity informing both verse and pictures." -School Library Journal; May 1997




"This witty intersection of poetry, art, and science will delight children and may inspire them to come up with their own creative ideas." -  Booklist; March 1997

CONNECTIONS

-Have students use the clues in the poem to infer what type of sea creature the poem is about

-Use this book as a supplement to an ocean unit for students to learn about other sea creatures.

-Have kids compare Florian's illustrations depicting the sea animal in the poem to a real picture of the animal.

Other poetry books by Douglas Florian that are gathered around a general subject:
- COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS. By Douglas Florian. ISBN: 0152053727
- INSECTLOPEDIA. By Douglas Florain. ISBN: 0152163352
- BEAST FEAST. By Douglas Florian. ISBN: 0152017372
- MAMMALABILIA. By Douglas Florian.   ISBN: 0152050248
- ON THE WING. By Douglas Florian.  ISBN: 0152023666