I WILL SWIM NEXT TIME

With nurturing from Mama, a young child gradually learns to love swimming.

Strapped to Mama’s chest, an infant is initially frightened by the water: “When I first saw the big blue sea / I was scared and confused. / It crashed so loud and spread so wide. / It made me feel small inside.” Subsequent trips to other bodies of water as the child grows older are conveyed through simple rhythmic text. The young narrator considers the attributes of a deep, “quiet lake” and a river with “water rushing by” and mulls venturing into the water, each time opting to go in...next time. Encouraging words, plenty of patience, and an imaginative journey through “watery worlds,” experienced from the comfort of Mama's arms, lay the foundation for the protagonist’s eventual decision to dive into a swimming pool. Illustrations hand drawn in ink and painted using watercolors contribute to the nurturing feel of the text. Both the mother and child, whose gender is not identified, are depicted with dark brown skin and tightly curled black hair. Translated from Swedish, the story offers a model for parents looking to quell children’s fears, support their dreams, and allow them room to grow. Given that many swimming pools have historically excluded African American communities and that Black children face an elevated risk of drowning, a narrative that spotlights a Black family reveling in the water is especially welcome. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Gentle, inspiring, and important.