Swimming picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. These titles may be found on my Amazon Storefront under Swimming Picture Books– https://www.amazon.com/shop/mrs.ferraris/list/2IOQHX6YHU325?ref_=aipsflist.)
❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗
A Fish Like Me
by Jamie Sumner (Author), Devon Holzwarth (Illustrator)
Summary: A young boy enjoys swimming therapy where he uses his imagination to become different water animals. He compares the freedom of how he moves in the water to how he navigates the world in his wheelchair.
Comments: The beautiful textures of gouache, colored pencil, and collage move the boy through his imaginative water world.
This is a superb SEL choice to encourage classroom discussions about inclusion and physical disabilities.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Swimming Season
by Jaimie Macgibbon (Author)
Summary: A family packs up the car and drives to the beach where they spend a day playing on the seashore and in the water. Once the sun goes down, they go to sleep in the tent.
Comments: This story in rhyme is full of beach and water activities that young readers will love. The illustrations capture the excitement and joy of the three siblings and their dog enjoying a perfect summer getaway.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Serafina Makes Waves
by Matthew Burgess (Author), Robin Rosenthal (Illustrator)
Summary: Serafina does not like water, yet she must learn how to swim. When an accident happens causing her to go into the pool, she realizes being wet is actually fun.
Comments: This is an encouraging story that captures the anxiety of trying something new. It could be a perfect first day read-aloud for students, showing them that trying new or intimidating things can turn out to be fun.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Ripples
by Katie Yamasaki
Summary: Ayla and her Aunty Koko put their life vests on and go in a raft to float down the river, noticing the wildlife and people on the riverbank.
Comments: This book is a gentle and engaging story that celebrates the mindfulness of slowly going down the river, bonding with family, and appreciating the environment.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach
by Scott Rothman (Author), Linzie Hunter (Illustrator)
Summary: Judgy Bunny is on the beach and does not like anything. A beach ball keeps bonking her. A bunny playing nearby invites her to join in the fun. After adjusting her attitude and trying new things, Judgy Bunny is able to enjoy herself.
Comments: This story is a fantastic tool for demonstrating the shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Big Family Beach Day
by Nina Crews (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Maya, her mother, and grandma drive to their annual family beach outing to meet their extended family. They play in the sand, swim in the water, and have a picnic.
Comments: A whimsical family story that everyone can relate to.
The illustrations were digitally drawn and collaged in Adobe Photoshop.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Dawn Patrol: A Father and Daughter Surfing Story
by Rob Sayegh Jr. (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: A father and daughter wake up at dawn and drive to the beach, where they put on wetsuits to swim and surf with other surfers, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Comments: Lovely story of a father and daughter bonding while enjoying the sea.
The illustrations were created with hand-marbled paper and digital collage.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Everybelly
by Thao Lam (Author)
Summary: Maddie and her mom went to the local pool. As they walked or swam by the neighbors, Maddie shared funny stories about them, observing their bellies.
Comments: A funny and diverse book about the many bellies around the neighborhood.
The illustrations were created in cut-paper collage.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Just One Wave
by Travis Jonker (Author)
Summary: Liam goes to the beach with his baby sibling, Sonja, and his mother, waiting for a wave to occur on the still water. It’s time to go when Liam realizes he can make one big wave, pleasing his little sister.
Comments: This is a lighthearted story that would be a humorous read-aloud for preschoolers or kindergartners.
The illustrations were created using a Pentel Color Brush and Procreate.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
If you like this one, you may enjoy Travis Jonker’s Just One Flake.
by Travis Jonker (Author)
My Dear Sea
by André Carrilho (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: A young girl is advised by her father to “respect the sea” just before she jumps in, meaning to be careful. She reflects on this advice as she shares her appreciation for the beauty of the sea creatures and emphasizes the importance of picking up litter. In doing so, she honors the sea.
Comments: These beautiful illustrations were created using watercolor, pencil, and digital editing and captured the colors and creatures of the sea.
This text is composed in rhyme.
This could be presented as a book focused on environmental themes, as well as on swimming or the sea.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Our Lake
by Angie Kang (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Two brothers walk to the lake to go swimming without their father for the first time since he died. The older brother jumps into the water from the cliff and coaxes his brother to join him. Will he be able to jump without the help of his father?
Comments: A beautiful story of two brothers learning how to grieve while moving forward without their father beside them; only in spirit.
The illustrations were created using gouache with additional textures added in crayon and colored pencil.
This is an excellent story to share with students and children experiencing death of a relative. It is gentle and quiet and does not overly emphasize their feelings.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Our Pool
by Lucy Ruth Cummins (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: We watch as many wake up and go to the city pool with other families. They change into a bathing suit, get covered with sunblock, and go into the cool blue water. Everyone plays above and below the water until it’s time to eat lunch on spread-out towels on concrete. They do more swimming before heading home with a treat from the ice cream truck.
Comments: The bright summer colors illustrations are showcased in many two page spreads with details and descriptive words that had me feeling like I was at the pool smelling the chlorine, hearing the shouting and laughter, and the coolness of the water.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
When You Can Swim
by Jack Wong (Author, Illustrator).
Brief summary: A young child encourages those to learn how to swim and shares all the aquatic wonders they could experience while swimming in various types of waters.
Comments: The back pages include the author sharing his experience of learning how to swim and going back to some of his favorite swimming spots for inspiration to write and illustrate the book.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
A Dive Into the Blue
by Ellie Huynh (Author), Bao Luu (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl shares her fear of diving into the public pool while standing at the edge of the diving board and letting her imagination almost overcome her from swimming. Will she be able to dive into the blue water?
Comments: I would share this book with students to help them learn coping skills to navigate their fears.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Waiting on Mr. Sloth
by Katy Hudson (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: Sasha is excited to go swimming with her best friend, Mr. Sloth, but is losing her patience with his slowness every step of the way. They finally walk to the lake and have lunch before entering the water. Sasha’s friend is taking too long, and she goes into the lake without him, only to realize it’s not as much fun. Sasha returns to their picnic to find Mr. Sloth in a tree enjoying his surroundings. Will Sasha and Mr. Sloth go swimming together in the future? Will Sasha learn to be patience?
Comments: In the back of the book, there is a discussion of ways to calm oneself when waiting.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Facing Your Fear of Water (Facing Your Fears)
by Heather E. Schwartz (Author). Nonfiction Hardcover.
Brief summary: Young readers get advice on ways to be calm if they are afraid of the water and are encouraged to take small steps to learn to be able to go swimming.
Comments: The back sections are Sink or Float, Glossary, Read More, and Internet Sites.
This is one of the Facing Your Fears series.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The selected children’s books are chosen by a highly qualified retired elementary school librarian, who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.