Together We Swim

June 15, 2023
A Black family of four enjoys a day at the pool. Readers may recognize two of the family members from Bolling and Juanita's Together We Ride (2022), which centered on a father teaching his young daughter to ride a bike. This latest takes a similar tack, as the mother now helps her young son learn to swim. The child is uncertain, but with her encouragement, he dips a toe into the water and picks up the fundamentals: lifting his head above the water, floating, pumping his arms and legs. There are snafus along the way--the child initially sinks, but Mom is right there. Finally the boy strikes out to swim, "On my own, / in the zone." The whole family is reassuring, cheering the child on. Big sister does the backstroke and a handstand, displaying the confidence the little one is still learning. Brief but upbeat rhyming verses will especially appeal to beginning readers. Juanita's carefully composed, muted line illustrations shine in the details, from swim bonnets on Mom and big sister to a mermaid tattoo on Dad's side. Touching moments in the art pair well with the text. Black family pride and joy abound--this is a family that allows its little ones the space to make forays into independence while supporting them every step of the way. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Warmly buoyant. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2023

Gr 1-2-With a rhythmic cadence, the text's spare language highlights the quickly changing emotions encapsulated in a young boy's first foray into swimming. The narrative goes from his initial trepidation, to a first tentative kick, then increasing confidence, and finally, "I'm swimming! Mouth grinning." The young boy's mother stays close, underscoring safety despite a "slight blunder," even before she reminds him, "Don't fear. I'm here." Dynamic, blue-hued illustrations make excellent use of vignettes and highlight movement and time passing, as well as celebrate the special parent-child relationship Bolling explored so well in Together We Ride that forms the heart of the story. Readers will love the illustrator's details: swim caps on the girls, Dad's mermaid tattoo, and the way the close family sticks together in and out of the pool. It's a triumph when the boy makes his first steady kicks and swaggers ahead of his family, proud and confident. VERDICT This excellent read-aloud celebrates accomplishment and honors fear and a misstep or two. Recommended for all libraries.-Rebecca Kirshenbaum

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2023
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* It's pool day, which can be a daunting time for those still learning to navigate the water, but the child protagonist of Together We Swim is a perfect portrayal of how persistence and determination, along with support from his mom, create the perfect blend of encouragement to keep him swimming. Bolling's succinct, concise, yet seamless rhyming lines join with Juanita's gorgeous artwork to illustrate a close-knit Black family's joy-filled day at the pool. Bolling's story serves as a reminder to young readers that it's okay to be afraid of trying something new and that it's also natural to count on others for guidance and support in those trying times. From the vivid cerulean hues to the attention to detail paid to each of the family member's appearances, Juanita's art style conveys a calm, cool day in the water. As the family leaves the pool with smiles and laughs, young swimmers-to-be will be reassured that pool time can be a wonderful activity, and this second collaboration of Bolling and Juanita (following 2022's Together We Ride) is testament to the success of their teamwork when depicting heartwarming family stories.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2023
Swimming is an important life skill, yet the legacy of systemic racism and continued inequities in the U.S. result in fewer Black children learning how. That makes this book, featuring a Black family of four, all the more meaningful. Enjoying a day at the pool, Ma teaches her young son how to swim as Dad and older sister (from Together We Ride, rev. 5/22) encourage and cheer him on. From the tentative "toe dip" to learning to float, kick, and stroke, the boy is supported by his family through his successes and a "small blunder." Eventually, he gets "in the zone" and swims on his own for the first time. Bolling's short rhyming text is accessible to those just dipping their toes into the reading waters. The illustrations in muted tones include lots of details: Dad's tattoo, Ma and Sister's swim caps, textured hair, and varied skin tones -- cultural touches that embrace and celebrate diversity. Drawing viewers into the space of the pool, the perspective makes us feel as if we are immersed with the family. The book ends with the joyful exuberance of conquering one's fears and with the calming steadiness of a loving family. Monique Harris

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Swimming is an important life skill, yet the legacy of systemic racism and continued inequities in the U.S. result in fewer Black children learning how. That makes this book, featuring a Black family of four, all the more meaningful. Enjoying a day at the pool, Ma teaches her young son how to swim as Dad and older sister (from Together We Ride, rev. 5/22) encourage and cheer him on. From the tentative "toe dip" to learning to float, kick, and stroke, the boy is supported by his family through his successes and a "small blunder." Eventually, he gets "in the zone" and swims on his own for the first time. Bolling's short rhyming text is accessible to those just dipping their toes into the reading waters. The illustrations in muted tones include lots of details: Dad's tattoo, Ma and Sister's swim caps, textured hair, and varied skin tones -- cultural touches that embrace and celebrate diversity. Drawing viewers into the space of the pool, the perspective makes us feel as if we are immersed with the family. The book ends with the joyful exuberance of conquering one's fears and with the calming steadiness of a loving family.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)