Is your child ready to dive into swimming? Here are children’s books about swimming, whether your child is excited or scared to swim.
Swimming had been a hit or miss with my kids in the early days. We could go from one week of splashing and making bubbles in the pool to outright fear of dipping their toes in the water. They liked splashing around and playing, but still hesitated letting go of the sides of the pool.
How can you ease kids into the idea of swimming?
As they grew older and had more opportunities to swim, splashing in the water felt more familiar. I enrolled them in swim lessons one summer, but found that the best way to develop their confidence was to simply spend more time in the pool. Every summer, we’re at our community pool at least once a week, if not more often. All on their own, they went from staying near the shallow end to canon bombing in the deep one.
Besides swimming whenever I get the chance, reading children’s books about swimming was also one of the best ways to introduce this overwhelming experience.
Through books, kids learn they’re not alone in their fears and trepidation. They can follow along as a character goes from hesitant to confident and willing to try. And they realize that swimming can be a fun experience.
Below are my recommendations for children’s books about swimming that do just that:
Children’s books about swimming
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.
Sakamoto’s Swim Club by by Julie Abery and Chris Sasaki
Brave in the Water by Stephanie Wildman and Jenni Feidler-Aguilar
Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves by Lauren H. Kerstein and Nate Wragg
Cannonball by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan
Leo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson
Spot Goes to the Swimming Pool by Eric Hill
My First Swim Class by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Jill Wachter
1, 2, 3, Jump! by Lisl H. Detlefsen and Madeline Valentine
Otter: Let’s Go Swimming! by Sam Garton
Saturday Is Swimming Day by Hyewon Yum
Curious George Goes Swimming by Margaret and H.A. Rey
Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim by Kim and Stew Leonard, Jr. and Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro
Be Brave, Little Penguin by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz
Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins
Brownie & Pearl Take a Dip by Cynthia Rylant and Brian Biggs
Llama Llama Learns to Swim by Anna Dewdney
Caillou Learns to Swim by Sarah Margaret Johanson and Eric Sévigny
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- When Your Child Is Scared at Extracurricular Activities
Free download: Want even more book selections? Join my newsletter and download the Read Aloud Book List! You’ll get hundreds of favorite selections to read aloud with your kids. Get it below—at no cost to you:
I didn’t even know about these books! My grandchildren all think they are fish. The oldest (5) can’t figure out why we don’t just let her go into the deep end by herself. LOL. Oddly, my kids weren’t really like that.
Aw how cute! That’s pretty cool that she’s brave about that!
I am trying to find a book for a 9yr. girl who was afraid of all outdoor sports and, this past year tried swimming and, has become a natural. I would like a book about the rewards of doing your best at swimming, and basically a book she would really feel good about her talent she just found.
Thank You,
Jill Weaver
Hi Jill, Check out Trudy’s Big Swim by Sue Macy (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/37Vbg85 It’ll hopefully inspire her.