Published by Orchard Books

Summary:  Adults show children the wonders of what awaits them once they learn how to swim.  Oceans and lakes beckon, with the beauty of nature and the adventures of jumping into the water and diving beneath the surface.  There’s diversity in the types of water and landscapes, the swimming experiences, and the people who are enjoying the water.  “When you can swim I’ll take you there,” a parent tells a child standing by the side of the pool.  “So swim, little one!”  Includes an author’s note about his own mixed experiences with learning to swim that were influenced by the experiences of his parents and grandparents.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I learned about this book when I saw that it won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for best picture book.  It’s a beautiful meditation on the glories of swimming, perfectly complemented with gorgeous illustrations that capture the light and shadows of the water.  You could pair it with one of the other books about swimming from this summer: Our Pool or Together We Swim.

Cons:  Because it is more of a meditation than a story, it may not hold the attention of every child.