Swimmy: questions to ask and activities to try
Swimmy, a little black fish, teaches a school of frightened red fish to swim together as one giant fish. A Caldecott Honor classic about teamwork and courage.
What age is Swimmy for?
Swimmy is best for ages 3–7.
Swimmy (Leo Lionni)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Teamwork, and how being different can be a strength
Only 50pSwimmy activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Look at the beautiful sea creatures Swimmy meets. Then talk about his clever plan, and why it only worked with everyone together.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–7 (nursery to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- Swimmy, a little black fish, teaches a school of frightened red fish to swim together as one giant fish. A Caldecott Honor classic about teamwork and courage.
- Helps with
- Teamwork, and how being different can be a strength
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Teamwork
- Being different
- Courage after loss
- Problem solving
Comprehension and discussion questions for Swimmy
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “How was Swimmy different from the other fish?”
- “What happened to his school?”
- “What wonderful things did he see in the sea?”
- “What was his plan for the scared fish?”
- “Why was Swimmy the eye?”
- “When have you done something better as a team?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Swimmy
All 6 questions for Swimmy on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
5-minute activities to try together
Big fish picture
Stamp or stick lots of small red fish into one big fish shape, with one black fish as the eye.
Team challenge
Try a task that’s easier together, like carrying a big box across a room.
Swimmy activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Swimmy, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about teamwork.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–7 (nursery to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Look at the beautiful sea creatures Swimmy meets. Then talk about his clever plan, and why it only worked with everyone together.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “How was Swimmy different from the other fish?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Big fish picture. Stamp or stick lots of small red fish into one big fish shape, with one black fish as the eye. Children who finish early can try Team challenge.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Swimmy activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
And Tango Makes Three (Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and Henry Cole)
- Best for
- Different kinds of families, from a true penguin story
- Age
- 3-7
Croc and Bird (Alexis Deacon)
- Best for
- Brothers and sisters who are very different
- Age
- 3-7
The Day the Crayons Quit (Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers)
- Best for
- Seeing things from someone else's point of view
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.