As the weather warms up, the chances of my storytime families getting involved in swimming lessons or simply trips to the pool goes way up. These are calming and ultimately fact-based "experiences" stories to help manage expectations and fears, and provide touch-points to reference later.
Maisy Learns to Swim
Lucy Cousins
ISBN: 9780763634800
Maisy is a popular mouse character done in faux naive childish style with heavy borders and bright colors. Like if someone did a Byron Barton book, but were a bit scribbly about it. In this particular installment, Maisy and her friends go to a swimming lesson, going through all the generally accepted motions thereupon. Everyone is excited and happy and successful, and the story ends with warm towels and hot showers.
Leo Can Swim
Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Ruth Hearson
ISBN:
9781580897259
Leo is Lola's little brother, and Lola is the Black protagonist of a set of slightly older-aimed experience books set in England. Those and Leo's books have only recently migrated across the pond, and I'm very glad they did. I love having poc in my stories, especially when that isn't the focus of the story. Here, Leo is obviously an infant, and he's attending baby swim class with his Daddy. (Also a great touch.) Once again all the general descriptive steps are there: from getting dressed to the different parts of the class to the shower and lotion and nap afterwards. Sweet sweet illustrations.
Sergio Makes a Splash
Edel Rodriguez
ISBN: 9780316066167
Sergio is a baby penguin, and his class takes their first field trip to the ocean, but Sergio can't swim. He's outfitted with swimmies, a lifejacket, and a swim ring, an encouraging teacher, enthusiastic friends, and a nicely-illustrated bit of positive self-talk, which I like to see modeled, so he's ready to tackle his fear. The ending is a BIT of a let-down, but it's still solid enough to be enjoyable.
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