Citation: Seder, R. B. (2008b). Swing!: A Scanimation Picture Book. New York: Workman Pub.
Ages: 0-8
Grades: Babies – Kindergarten
Description: Seder’s follow up book to the previously mentioned Gallop! focuses on children in motion. Swing! asks readers if they can perform a variety of sports-themed activities, such as: running, kicking a ball, and swinging a bat. The book features vibrantly-colored rhyming text in contrast with black and white scanimation images. The images are acetate paper overlays on board pages, that give the illusion of movement.
Uses: Seder’s Swing! is ideal for a sport-themed storytime with young children. The book is best used in small group settings, so all readers can see the movement in the images. Librarians and adults can read the book with children, teaching them the concepts of each action and each sport. Children can then be lead in the movements, or in small group sporting activities. For example, a librarian could read the story, and then lead students in a game of catch with foam balls. This could be done with many of the different activities in the book. Librarians and adults could also ask students to mimic each action along with the book text. Swing!’s scanimation images will help capture attention and demonstrate sport and movement concepts to children. In addition to children, the book would be ideal for engaging reluctant readers who have an interest in sports and teens and adults who are differently-abled.
Review Sources:
Swing!. (2008). Publishers Weekly, 255(38), 58.
Seder, R. B. (n.d). Swing!
Search Terms: baseball, sports, differently-abled, rhyme