Swimmy is the only small black fish in a school of small red fish. One terrible day, the school is attacked by a big, hungry tuna fish--only Swimmy manages to survive. Now all alone, Swimmy explores the ocean, marveling at all the wonderful sea creatures he encounters. Then one day, Swimmy meets another school of small red fish, but they won't come out to play with him because they are all, understandably, terrified of being eaten by a bigger fish. Luckily, Swimmy comes up with an inventive way for them all to enjoy life in the ocean without fear of becoming another creature's dinner. Selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1963 and named a 1964 Caldecott Honor Book, this celebration of creative thinking and teamwork features evocative collage and watercolor illustrations.

Leo Lionni, an internationally known designer, illustrator, and graphic artist, was born in Holland and lived in Italy until he came to the United States in 1939. He was the recipient of the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was honored posthumously in 2007 with the Society of Illustrators’ Lifetime Achievement Award. His picture books are distinguished by their enduring moral themes, graphic simplicity and brilliant use of collage, and include four Caldecott Honor Books: Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Hailed as “a master of the simple fable” by the Chicago Tribune, he died in 1999 at the age of 89.From the Hardcover edition.