Cindy Knoke's photography cindyknoke.com is nothing short of stunning. From birds to wildlife to nature, she captures it all in breathtaking detail. When I saw her recent photo of snow geese flying from a predator, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Do you see what I see? A giant fish?
The snow geese are in protective formation, just like the fish in the classic children's book Swimmy, by Leo Lionni. If you don't know the book, stop by the children's section of your public library and treat yourself to a great story.
This was the very first book I read to my preschool class decades ago. When my head teacher asked, "Jennie, would you like to be the one read a book to the children every day?", she put Swimmy in my hands, and my world of teaching was forever changed.
A happy school of little fish lived in a corner of the sea somewhere. They were all red. Only one of them was as black as a mussel shell. He swam faster than his brothers and sisters. His name was Swimmy.
One bad day a tuna fish, swift, fierce, and very hungry came darting through the waves. In one gulp he swallowed all the little red fish. Only Swimmy escaped.
The story continues with Swimmy being lonely and sad, yet he discovers the wonders of the ocean. He comes across a school of red fish, much like his own. Swimmy wants to play, but the little red fish are worried that the big fish will eat them.
Leave it to Swimmy to come up with a plan- to swim all together like the biggest fish in the sea.
He taught them to swim together, each in his own place.
And when they had learned to swim like one giant fish, he said, "I'll be the eye."
Swimmy and his new family swam in the cool morning water and in the midday sun and chased the big fish away. This story has everything- adventure, bravery, fear, family, creativity, and persistence. It will forever be one of my favorites.
Thank you, Cindy Knoke, for capturing Swimmy in your snow geese photo. Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful book, and of my first days teaching and reading aloud to young children.
Jennie
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