SWIMMING LESSONS
by Betsy Jay & illustrated by Lori Osiecki
Although this story from newcomer Jay, about a young girl’s reluctance to learn how to swim, is long-winded, it conveys a genuine sense of how children feel in the face of parental prompting. Momma explains to Jane that she must learn how to swim; threats, logic, nonsense ensue, and nothing but Jimmy’s taunts convince Jane that she has to jump into the pool. And then she loves it. Osiecki combines personable scratchboard illustrations with some Photoshop coloration, to no significant effect, but the entire enterprise, if predictable, is friendly bibliotherapy. (Picture book. 5-9)