No Swimming for Nelly

by Valeri Gorbachev

Nelly refuses to learn how to swim . . . until Grandma intervenes.

Nelly looks fabulous in her new swimsuit, so she wears it all the time--while riding her bike, playing basketball, eating at a fancy restaurant . . . even while sleeping.

But Nelly refuses to wear it for swimming. Grandma, a swimming champion, has other ideas. Finally Nelly, dipping one toe at a time, learns to float, blow bubbles, kick . . . and is on her way to becoming a champion swimmer herself!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Sports, Storytime, Fiction, Family, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

(from harpercollins.com)

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swimwear? Nelly knows she looks ab fab in her bathing suit so why not wear it everywhere? Everywhere but to swim that is. Fortunately, Nelly's grandmother is up to the task of getting Nelly comfortable with blowing bubbles, dipping her toes in the water, and learning other such basic steps required for swimming. Good thing she's got a bathing suit!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations capture the facial expressions and body language of the characters in this picture book perfectly while the story itself explores a common fear--swimming. After her mother buys her a new swimsuit, Nelly wears it everywhere. But she is afraid of the water, and refuses to use the suit for its original purpose, not matter what her mother does. All that changes, though, when the two of them visit her grandmother who reassures her and gently, toe by toe, little by little, she enters the water. The fact that her grandmother was once a world-class swimmer and has many trophies most likely inspires her a bit, but her example also helps since the older one still has all the right moves in the water. Although the characters are pigs, caregivers and teachers will surely find this title useful for dispelling some of the fears their own charges have about trying something new or being nervous about going into the water. That pool or lake water can surely seem very deep to a novice.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I've now read nearly all of Valeri Gorbachev's picture books. I like this one because Nelly overcomes a fear thanks to the help of her mom and grandma. Alena loves her grandma and kept smiling while I read this one to her.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many kids go through a phase of being afraid of the water. Nelly gradually learns that swimming doesn't have to be scary! This is a cute book, and I liked that pigs were the heroes.

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but read Jabari Jumps intead.

[Shayle Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Swimming for Nelly by Valeri Gorbachev is about a little pig named Nelly, who just received a brand new swimsuit from her mommy. Nelly loved her new swimsuit, but she didn’t like swimming. The water was much too cold, the waves were scary, the water got in her face, and the water was scary too. So, instead of wearing her swimsuit for swimming, Nelly wore it to ride bikes, play basketball, etc. A little while later, Nelly was told that she is going to go to her grandma’s house and learn how to swim, but Nelly said again, “No swimming for me.” Finally, when she got to her grandma’s house and saw her grandmas swimming trophies, Nelly wasn’t so scared anymore and she finally learned how to swim.

I really liked this story because it demonstrated that sometimes we just need a little bit of encouragement in order to feel comfortable with going through with something, even though it may seem scary at first.

In psychotherapy, I can use this story to teach my kids that it’s okay if your scared at first or that you fail at something, as long as you get back up and try again. For instance, if a child is scared to confront their parent about their relationship within the household; I could suggest to them that we do family therapy that way I can be a buffer, but also that way the child still feels comfortable and still feels like they are being heard.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Swimming for Nelly by Valeri Gorbachev. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2018. $18. 9780823437801.

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Nelly is a little pig who loves her new swimsuit. She wears it playing basketball, eating out at the restaurant and even when she sleeps, but Nelly won't go swimming. Nelly's dislike/fear of swimming is challenged when they go visit her grandma--a champion swimmer! Grandma helps Nelly see there is nothing to fear and under her guidance, Nelly learns to swim.

This is a great story about overcoming our fears and trying new things. I really liked the character of Nelly--she is super cute!--and I feel like many kids will relate to her fear of swimming. The text is simple and straightforward, making it a great read aloud, and the illustrations are fun. I especially like the cover and I think it will draw many a curious young reader.

Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me, the point of this story is that Nelly is afraid to "go swimming" until she learns basic skills. Such as how to blow bubbles underwater.

It's brilliant that her grandmother teaches her those skills. Of course the child's fear of swimming will disappear. It's common to fear doing something until we learn the basic what-to-do's.

This book deserves a FIVE STAR rating for including this rare-and-practical lesson. Brilliant, making this central to the story!

ON THE OTHER HAND

If I were the Grandma in this story, I might not "intervene" and entice Nelly to go swimming. Early in this book we learn that toddler Nelly looks really good in her swimsuit. She wears it everywhere for this reason.

My view? Partly serious, partly not....

Let Nelly enjoy this time in her life when she can walk around in public in her swimsuit. How many years is that innocent physical self-acceptance going to last?

Later, at least, she can develop the consolation of swimming in her swimsuit.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Toddler-Preschool
Animals: Pigs
Clothing: Swimsuit
Emotion: Being scared
Family: Grandma and granddaughter
Sport: Swimming

Nelly loves her new swimsuit and incessantly wears it. But when Nelly is given a chance to actually take a swim, she has a slew of reasons why she doesn't like the water. Soon Nelly and her mom go to visit Grandma, a champion swimmer, and the visit takes on a special purpose.

The shorter length of the story is perfect for introducing a story with a plot to toddlers and emerging preschool students.

[Victoria Barco]

Nelly—a pink piglet with a jaunty red bow—is thrilled with her new red-andwhite polka-dotted swimsuit. Beaming, she admires herself in the mirror, but when she and her mother head to the
beach, Nelly refuses to get in the water: “No swimming for me.” The cold, waves, and water up her nose are some of the reasons, but basically: “Water scares me! I like my swimsuit. But I don’t like swimming.” She continues to delight in her suit, though, wearing it while playing basketball, biking, and even having dinner at a fancy restaurant. Gorbachev’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations depict a happy mother-daughter pair; it continues to be just the two of them when they fly on a plane to see Grandma, a champion swimmer. The artist includes funny details for children to find, like Nelly’s human doll, and he keeps his world consistent, with all of the other characters depicted as dogs or goats, not pigs. Gorbachev uses lots of sea-greens and golden-yellows, outlining everything with thin black lines of ink, reminiscent of the illustrations of Paul Galdone. It’s appealing that no one
ever scolds or mocks Nelly for her fear, and also that she gains confidence by seeing what great swimming looks like as her grandmother demonstrates.
lexile level: 500L
grade: Preschool-3

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piglet Nelly has a new swimsuit. She looks fabulous in it, and does everything in it...except swim. It is Grandma, a former champion swimmer herself, who conquers Nelly's fears and gets her as excited about swimming as she is about everything else. This is a lighthearted romp about a typical childhood fear. The watercolor and ink illustrations are expressive and fun. This makes a delightful book that children should enjoy.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nelly adores her new red and white polka-dotted swimsuit. She doesn't, however, adore swimming. When her mother takes her to the beach Nelly comes up with a ton of reasons why the ocean is not for her. Then Nelly visits her grandma, a former swimming champion, and decides that maybe wading into the pool isn't so bad after all. Young readers with a fear of the water will appreciate this gentle story about being brave and trying new things. Of course, rocking a fabulous swimsuit doesn't hurt!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nelly loves her swimsuit, but she doesn’t want to swim. Water is too cold, she doesn’t like the waves … you name it. So, she wears her swimsuit for every other reason but to swim. Then Nelly goes to visit Grandma who has a swimming pool and a bunch of championship medals for swimming. At first, Nelly just watches, but Grandma soon convinces her to come into the water. Soon, Nelly is learning to swim.

[Melanie H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though Mommy bought Nelly a brand new swim suit, she has no intention of ever swimming. The water is too cold, the waves might wash over her head and she's afraid of water. But everything changes when they go to visit Grandma. Grandma was a champion swimmer. After watching Grandma swim laps in the water, Nelly knew she could do it.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for every frustrated parent who has brought their kid to the beach only to find they won't step foot in the water. Grandma starts her out in the pool instead and Nelly discovers she loves swimming after all.

Can't blame you Nelly, I don't like to swim with the sharks either.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love how real the joy of a new swimsuit and the fear of swimming coexist. Love how the grandma shows the joy of swimming, but the transition for little Nelly learning to swim seems much too fast to honor and acknowledge how long this can take.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is similar to the idea of children playing with the box that a great toy comes in, instead of playing with the toy.

Well Nelly just loves her swimsuit and wears it all the time. But she doesn't like swimming. Let's see if swim champ Grandma can change her mind.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable artwork of an aquaphobic piglet’s victory over fear, thanks to a fetching swimsuit and her grandma’s patient encouragement; a competent and enjoyable story overall, though a bit too tidy and predictable.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Give this one to kids that are either scared of the water or have yet to learn how to swim. A good book overall, but there was one thing that just really bothered me. The grandma pig looked so sad and scary. She might scare some younger kids.

[Anne Lutomia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valeri Gorbachev writes and illustrates about Nelly, a piglet who is scared of swimming but loves to wear her swimsuit all through. Grandma shows her how to swim and her fear disappears. Soon Nelly is enjoying swimming.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about overcoming a fear of swimming.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandma helps Nelly get over her fear of learning to swim.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story about fears and finding the right person to help us face our fears, some cute characters.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nelly doesn't want to swim and would rather play in her swimsuit than use it for swimming. This is your standard overcoming fear plot that boys and girls will enjoy.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little pig loves her new swimsuit but doesn't want to go swimming. Can Grandma change her mind? Cute and fun. Preschool and up

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect read for a brand new swimmer who might not quite feel ready for the water.

[Chris Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is nothing sensational in this book. It is a solid story to teach courage and help students get into the pool for swim lessons the first time.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't understand why this book doesn't get better ratings. It's absolutely adorable.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adorable, gentle and sweet book about a pig who is afraid to swim, but she does love her fancy swimsuit! Very good book for helping kids overcome their fears.

[Paulette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the artwork, and the story, while simple, was cute!!