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The Kids Are All Right

Children’s Books About Swimming!

Hi Kid Lit Friends!

It’s July! Here in New York City, public swimming pools are closed for the season. This is very sad, so I thought I would talk about all the great books about swimming. Here are some terrific ones:

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall is one of my absolute favorite picture books. A family goes to the swimming pool, and Jabari is going to jump off the diving board. Except he goes up the ladder, then decides maybe he won’t jump into the pool. But he really wants to, and everyone around him is having fun… so what should he do? Dad, of course, has the answer.

 

Bernard Makes a Splash by Lisa Stickley is another wonderful picture book. Bernard (who is a hound! so cute!) has been the manager of the local swimming pool for a long time. He is super shy but quietly observes other people diving then practices his diving at night when no one else is around. When his pool holds a contest for high-diving hounds from around the world, he hopes that he can work up enough courage to compete.

Wave by Suzy Lee is a lovely wordless picture book about a girl’s day at a beach. Like Jabari Jumps, the story works through feelings of wonder and fear. I love the way the waves and the movements of the girl and how it perfectly captures a summer day at the beach.

For middle grade readers, try The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon, one of my favorite middle grade books. It is the story of Caleb Franklin and his big brother Bobby Gene. They are excited to have adventures in the woods behind their house, but Caleb dreams of venturing beyond their ordinary small town. When Caleb and Bobby Gene meet new neighbor Styx Malone, Styx promises the brothers that together, the three of them can pull off the Great Escalator Trade–exchanging one small thing for something better until they achieve their wildest dream. But as the trades get bigger, the brothers soon find themselves in over their heads.

And for upper middle grade readers, try Up for Air by Laurie Morrison. This book is about thirteen-year-old Annabelle who struggles in school but dominates in the pool. She’s the fastest girl on the middle school swim team, and when she’s asked to join the high school team over the summer, everything changes. Suddenly, she’s got new friends, and a high school boy starts treating her like she’s somebody special—and Annabelle thinks she’ll finally stand out in a good way. She’ll do anything to fit in and help the team make it to the Labor Day Invitational, even if it means blowing off her old friends. But after a prank goes wrong, Annabelle is abandoned by the older boy and can’t swim. Who is she without the one thing she’s good at?

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

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