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The Boy Who Wouldn't Swim
Electric, sherbet-y colors, uniquely comic characters, and a story line filled with high comedy mark this fabulous picture book by new talent Deb Lucke. Eric Dooley just won’t swim. If sweating in the hot summer sun while everyone else cools off in the pool isn’t bad enough, Eric’s younger sister is having the time of her life. When he sees her dog-paddling right across the middle of the pool, under his sunblock he’s positively green with envy. Not to mention sweaty. And irritated. But after the babies in the wading pool give him dirty looks for invading their territory, Eric finds a way to conquer his fears. And just like that he goes from being the boy who wouldn’t swim . . . to being the boy who won’t get out of the pool. Not even in October.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 9, 2017
Eric is a young boy who refuses to learn to swim. All summer he is jealous of his younger sister who learns to swim and torments the bathers because he is so cranky being out in the heat. Eventually in August he can't bear it anymore. He attempts to get in the pool and before long he is swimming! Then, though Summer has ended, he refuses to leave the pool and is still there in the snow!
Eric is not nice and I did not care for him. This detracted from the story and the story wan't all that deep, funny, or meaningful anyway.
Eric is not nice and I did not care for him. This detracted from the story and the story wan't all that deep, funny, or meaningful anyway.
April 18, 2009
I'd never really thought about how to portray people in water. But looking at the illustrations here, this seems about right. Mentions of prune toes, baby pee, sharks, and dog-paddling have me longing for a dip myself.
This paired with Sergio Makes a Splash would be a nice combo for reluctant swimmers.
This paired with Sergio Makes a Splash would be a nice combo for reluctant swimmers.
August 21, 2015
A bit text heavy so it might appeal to older kids. Eric will not get in the mail and it takes almost all of summer to get him there despite his sister who learns to swim and enjoys the pool! Beautiful colorful pictures with the lifeguard starting and ending the story.
November 21, 2017
Summary:
“The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim” begins at a community pool where everyone in the neighborhood loves to swim, except for Eric Dooley. Eric is very stubborn about not getting in the water because he is scared of it. Whenever his mom or friends ask him to swim he throws a fit. One day, Eric’s sister, Jessica, takes a swim lesson where she learns how to doggy-paddle. After a summer of swim lessons, Eric is green with envy when he sees Jessica swimming underwater. Because Eric is jealous of his sister’s swimming ability, he begins yelling “pee water,” “shark,” and “tsunami” to get his sister out of the water. One day, Eric gets really hot, so he decides to cool down in the baby pool. After realizing how good the water felt, he decides to conquer his fears and hop in the big pool. Before long, he learns how much he loves swimming and becomes the boy who doesn’t stop swimming.
Theme(s):
The themes of this book are jealousy, adventure, fears, and overcoming fears.
Star rating:
I’m rating this book four stars because I enjoyed the plot and images. This book does an amazing job at bringing a story in full circle with the character Eric.
Personal response:
Overall, I really enjoyed “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim.” My favorite part of this text was the illustrations because they were fun, vibrant, and realistic. I thought it was very artistic how the illustrator drew people in water because that is a challenging skill. Second, I had a text-to-self connection when I read about Eric. As a child, I was super scared to swim and my parents forced me to take swim lessons. Similar to Eric, I remember I would always stare at the kids who could swim because I was jealous. Personally, I believe the author did a fantastic job developing the character, Eric. I loved how I got to witness him growing throughout every page and realizing his potential to swim and become open-minded. I think jealousy is a big emotion that many children face when growing up. As children, everyone is selfish and loves to be the center of attention. However, children are challenged when they are compared to another child or group of children, so I believe this book does a great job acting as a mirror or window for any child who may face this emotion. Additionally, this book is great to read to children who are overcoming their fears. Every child has some fear no matter how big or small. I like how the author made Eric’s fear known by the whole community because that’s hard to go through as a child. However, Eric's persistence made him hop in the pool. This book can encourage other children to open their mind to anything. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the plot. The message is very prevalent for elementary age children.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to 3rd through 5th graders because it is a little text heavy and longer than I imagined. Even though the text is a little longer, the images are very realistic and engaging. Every time I turned the page, I was excited to see what was happening next at the pool. Second, I think 3rd through 5th graders will connect to the text because many of them are learning how to swim, if they haven’t already. Additionally, this book covers the message of overcoming fears, which is always important to bring the topic up to children.
“The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim” begins at a community pool where everyone in the neighborhood loves to swim, except for Eric Dooley. Eric is very stubborn about not getting in the water because he is scared of it. Whenever his mom or friends ask him to swim he throws a fit. One day, Eric’s sister, Jessica, takes a swim lesson where she learns how to doggy-paddle. After a summer of swim lessons, Eric is green with envy when he sees Jessica swimming underwater. Because Eric is jealous of his sister’s swimming ability, he begins yelling “pee water,” “shark,” and “tsunami” to get his sister out of the water. One day, Eric gets really hot, so he decides to cool down in the baby pool. After realizing how good the water felt, he decides to conquer his fears and hop in the big pool. Before long, he learns how much he loves swimming and becomes the boy who doesn’t stop swimming.
Theme(s):
The themes of this book are jealousy, adventure, fears, and overcoming fears.
Star rating:
I’m rating this book four stars because I enjoyed the plot and images. This book does an amazing job at bringing a story in full circle with the character Eric.
Personal response:
Overall, I really enjoyed “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim.” My favorite part of this text was the illustrations because they were fun, vibrant, and realistic. I thought it was very artistic how the illustrator drew people in water because that is a challenging skill. Second, I had a text-to-self connection when I read about Eric. As a child, I was super scared to swim and my parents forced me to take swim lessons. Similar to Eric, I remember I would always stare at the kids who could swim because I was jealous. Personally, I believe the author did a fantastic job developing the character, Eric. I loved how I got to witness him growing throughout every page and realizing his potential to swim and become open-minded. I think jealousy is a big emotion that many children face when growing up. As children, everyone is selfish and loves to be the center of attention. However, children are challenged when they are compared to another child or group of children, so I believe this book does a great job acting as a mirror or window for any child who may face this emotion. Additionally, this book is great to read to children who are overcoming their fears. Every child has some fear no matter how big or small. I like how the author made Eric’s fear known by the whole community because that’s hard to go through as a child. However, Eric's persistence made him hop in the pool. This book can encourage other children to open their mind to anything. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the plot. The message is very prevalent for elementary age children.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to 3rd through 5th graders because it is a little text heavy and longer than I imagined. Even though the text is a little longer, the images are very realistic and engaging. Every time I turned the page, I was excited to see what was happening next at the pool. Second, I think 3rd through 5th graders will connect to the text because many of them are learning how to swim, if they haven’t already. Additionally, this book covers the message of overcoming fears, which is always important to bring the topic up to children.
February 26, 2020
The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim was about a boy named Eric who refused to get in the pool because he was afraid of learning how to swim. He’d watch his little sister Jessica learn how to swim throughout the entire summer, and would get jealous and try to stop her every time she tried something new. Eventually, the weather got so un bearably hot and he absolutely needed to get into the water. At first, he went into the baby pool, then he went into the big pool and he was terrified. He eventually got used to the water and started to love it, he even wouldn’t get out of the pool when the weather started to change.
The overall theme of this book is trying new things, even if they scare you. Being able to try new things is important in life, especially if it scares you.
When I read this book, I liked how Jessica, his younger sister, was showing off a little, because that pushed him to actually want to try and learn how to swim.
I would recommend this book for children who are afraid of swimming or learning how to swim, because it shows the acceptance that Eric eventually has for the water and swimming.
The overall theme of this book is trying new things, even if they scare you. Being able to try new things is important in life, especially if it scares you.
When I read this book, I liked how Jessica, his younger sister, was showing off a little, because that pushed him to actually want to try and learn how to swim.
I would recommend this book for children who are afraid of swimming or learning how to swim, because it shows the acceptance that Eric eventually has for the water and swimming.
June 11, 2018
I didn't like this one too much. There's a lot of text that adds little to the narrative and I didn't care for the attitudes of the characters. Eric doesn't want to learn to swim, while Jessica, the sister, is progressing a lot. They are not nice to each other and don't learn anything. Now, I can appreciate children's books without a message, they're refreshing, but they should at least be funny or have an interesting story. This has neither.
The only thing that we found funny is that the lifeguard ends up working throughput the winter and changes his swimsuit for winter clothes.
The only thing that we found funny is that the lifeguard ends up working throughput the winter and changes his swimsuit for winter clothes.
February 27, 2020
The book is about a boy named Eric who refused to swim. The whole town, including his little sister jess, was swimming in the pool the entire summer. Jealous of his little sister learning how to swim, he pulled pranks on her to try to make himself feel better. By the end of the book, Eric decides to go in the pool and learn how to swim. Eventually, his parents can’t get him out of the pool even as winter approaches. I would say the book is good for children at the elementary level to help teach them to concur their fears. The theme is overcoming your fears and courage.
January 25, 2023
Even though it was a hot summer, Eric was not swimming. All summer long he sits in the sun while his little sister learns to swim. (and plays several pranks to deal with his sister jealousy) One day he hit a low and dipped in the baby pool where he decided he wasn’t a baby and went in the big pool. Lots of tall tale level exaggeration.
September 4, 2025
The boy who wouldn't swim is a good story about a boy is is afraid of the water the entire summer but is jealous of his sister, who is getting swimming lessons from his mom. Between jealousy and fear, the boy faces his fear of water. This is a book I would read to the class about facing their fears.
November 24, 2025
This book is about a boy who will not swim, and tries to get everyone out of the pool by screaming things like "shark" or "pee in the pool" this land the boy in time out. Will he every be brave enough to hop into the pool?
May 11, 2019
As a non-swimmer I understand Eric's aversion.
February 11, 2022
This book was so silly! It truly showed that you shouldn’t be afraid to try new things or else you will miss out on all sorts of adventures.
December 17, 2022
Facing your fears and have some fun in the pool!!
October 30, 2025
I enjoyed this book!! I was once scared of the water and would not get around it, no matter how hot it was, until we got an indoor swimming pool at my house, and my mother taught me how to swim.
September 2, 2016
THE BOY WHO WOULDN'T SWIM
Review
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The book receives an extra star for adorable illustrations.
As regards the plot, the story is cute enough. However, we do not know why Eric (the protagonist) is scared of swimming, the pool, etc..., so that is a big detractor. In addition, the reader does not learn anything about pool safety save for not spitting, so that seems like a missed opportunity.
This is one of those books that is adorable and fun but lacking in substance. Obviously there is a conclusion to be made here; it just feels underdeveloped. That leaves the parent (or librarian or caregiver or...) to have discussions about the fear of swimming, etc..with the child, but the picture book is already long enough that one wonders if there would be time.
(As a side note, does the term "prune toes" seem iffy to anyone else? This is a tough, underdeveloped use of the word. "Prune" is a noun. "Pruned" is a verb. So, perhaps the aim was a compound noun, i.e.--prune-toes? People tend to say, "My fingers are all pruny/pruney," which of course is not an official word. To say that one has pruned toes is to say that they have been trimmed, cut back, etc...Wow! Grammar fun from a picture book! I would love to hear people's thoughts about what they use. I tend to use "pruney.")
Review
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The book receives an extra star for adorable illustrations.
As regards the plot, the story is cute enough. However, we do not know why Eric (the protagonist) is scared of swimming, the pool, etc..., so that is a big detractor. In addition, the reader does not learn anything about pool safety save for not spitting, so that seems like a missed opportunity.
This is one of those books that is adorable and fun but lacking in substance. Obviously there is a conclusion to be made here; it just feels underdeveloped. That leaves the parent (or librarian or caregiver or...) to have discussions about the fear of swimming, etc..with the child, but the picture book is already long enough that one wonders if there would be time.
(As a side note, does the term "prune toes" seem iffy to anyone else? This is a tough, underdeveloped use of the word. "Prune" is a noun. "Pruned" is a verb. So, perhaps the aim was a compound noun, i.e.--prune-toes? People tend to say, "My fingers are all pruny/pruney," which of course is not an official word. To say that one has pruned toes is to say that they have been trimmed, cut back, etc...Wow! Grammar fun from a picture book! I would love to hear people's thoughts about what they use. I tend to use "pruney.")
July 17, 2008
A picture book of a boy who is afraid of swimming and is a nusaince at the pool by shouting out "shark" and "someone peed in the pool." After his younger sister learns to swim and is diving off the diving board, he goes to the edge of the pool and decides he should learn how to swim. Cute illustrations.
July 19, 2014
My 4-year-old didn't really enjoy the story with this book but he did like the illustration of the baby pool with a baby peeing in the water (a baby sat in a diaper but there's yellow all around). As a parent, I liked that it shows you should face your fears because you might really enjoy doing the thing you're afraid of.
December 2, 2012
This is a silly, but entertaining story about a boy who is afraid to learn how to swim. The illustrations feature bright, bold colors, and the narrative is short enough to keep the attention span of younger children. Our oldest read this book aloud to me last night, but I was dozing off, so I read it again this morning.
June 26, 2013
A longer picture book that I used since I had only one older boy for PJ Story Time. He really enjoyed the story and had lots of questions and thoughts that we discussed so the story took a while.
A boy is scared of swimming, but finally takes the plunge. Then his parents have the opposite problem - how to get him out?
A boy is scared of swimming, but finally takes the plunge. Then his parents have the opposite problem - how to get him out?
January 21, 2016
Erik Dooley is the only person in the county who won't go swimming during the unbearable heat of summer. He tries to spoil everyone else's fun, especially his little sister Jessica - who is not afraid of the water. Eventually he overcomes his fear and learns to love the water.
Very fun illustrations.
Very fun illustrations.
June 29, 2011
Quite a long story and one with tall-tale like hyperbole, which younger kids are a bit perplexed by. However, the illustrations are cute and the ending is funny. Might work for a storytime if you compressed it a bit.
February 26, 2014
3.5 Stars This book is cute enough! The pictures are great and the expressions of the boy is hilarious. This would be a good book if you have timid kids not ready to swim. It was fun and I enjoyed it!
August 9, 2008
There used to be "girl who wouldn't swim" at my house :)
August 31, 2008
I do not quite see much charm in the telling or the illustrations which a "story" about a reluctant young swimmer has to have in order to maintain interest.
September 5, 2008
a bit disappointing. great pictures but too many words and a wandering storyline.
May 7, 2009
Yawn.
May 29, 2009
This book- the story of a boy who refuses to get in the pool all through a summer heat wave- rates four stars only because the last two pages (and the end papers) made me laugh out loud.
April 20, 2012
I read this book to my son, since my son did not like getting into the water. A very cute story and I liked how Eric's mom finally manged to get him to swim.
May 30, 2012
I loved the illustrations! The story was fun to read as well!
June 8, 2012
Eric is afraid to get in the water and so tries to sabotage his younger sister, who is learning to swim. He finally decides to take the plunge (pun intended). Cute, but a bit long for preschoolers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews