Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amazing art shows diverse families and the wonder of water.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WHEN YOU CAN SWIM, being in the water opens entire new worlds of wonder, freedom, exploration, and fun. Open water offers a chance for families and friends to share time together in nature, and for people to enjoy peace, quiet, and their own adventures. From shorelines to small ponds and big lakes, floating on top or touching the bottom, standing above the water or diving deep, there's so much to enjoy about water when you can swim. At the end of the book the author includes his own story and family history of pool access and learning to swim.
Is It Any Good?
The immersive illustrations are a perfect match for the inspiring, inclusive, warm words that are about more than just the mechanics of swimming. When You Can Swim focuses the reader on the physical feelings and the emotions that swimmers have when they're floating, diving, moving fast, and sitting still. Jack Wong's book is both calming and invigorating, helping readers imagine the feeling of being in the water and the endless possibilities swimming creates. This book inspires awe and is a great read aloud for asking questions and sparking memories about being in or near the water. The hope and wonder throughout this lovely picture book will stay with readers young and old long after the final page.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they feel about swimming and how it might be different from the way it's described in When You Can Swim. What do you like about being in water? What don't you like?
Where would you like to swim that you haven't been yet?
What do you think could keep someone from learning to swim?
Talk about some of the pictures where kids showed courage and perseverance as they learned to swim or took risks while swimming. What or who helped them? What or who helps you be brave or keep going when things are hard?
Book Details
- Author: Jack Wong
- Illustrator: Jack Wong
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Orchard Books
- Publication date: May 2, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 48
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Awards: ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: September 5, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Read Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate