No Swimming for Nelly

No Swimming for NellyNo Swimming for Nelly by Valeri Gorbachev
Published by Holiday House on June 12th 2018
ISBN: 0823437809
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars


Nelly refuses to learn how to swim . . . until Grandma intervenes.

Nelly looks fabulous in her new swimsuit, so she wears it all the time--while riding her bike, playing basketball, eating at a fancy restaurant . . . even while sleeping.

But Nelly refuses to wear it for swimming. Grandma, a swimming champion, has other ideas. Finally Nelly, dipping one toe at a time, learns to float, blow bubbles, kick . . . and is on her way to becoming a champion swimmer herself!

No Swimming for Nelly is a picture book for ages 3-7 years.

Even thought her mother gifts Nellly, her piglet, with a new swimsuit which she adores, Nelly still refuses to go swimming.  Since she adores  her swimsuit, Nelly will wear it when she is doing all of her other playtime activities. Nelly’s mother decides that a visit to Grandma’s is in order as Grandma was once a swimming champion. With much coaxing, Nelly finally enters her Grandma’s pool and with practice and praise is convinced that she too, can swim like a champion.

A wonderful book to use when talking about taking risks and building confidence.   The book demonstrates that with the right kind of support and an “all in good time attitude,” that miracles can happen if children are encouraged to try new things that may result in bettering their self esteem.

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME

three-stars