Swimming Lessons

by Betsy Jay

Although she has found many excuses for refusing to take swimming lessons, Jane finally faces the inevitable and jumps into the water for a very good reason

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Danette]

Julia & I can relate to this book.

7/9/2018 Read with Naomi & Julia

[KaitandMaddie]

I thought it was quite funny, Maddie wants a colour changing dinosaur swimsuit and I think Sherlock may want to be careful that the kids don’t try to prove the hypothesis about cats and water.

[Miss Sarah]

a young girl tries to avoid swimming lessons and goes to extreme measures. elementary and up

[Sam]

Jane's mother has decided Jane will learn to swim. Jane disagrees. Both characters are disrespectful. Jane's mother says "it's very important that (Jane) know how to swim, because everyone else she knows who is (Jane's) age--or has ever been (Jane's) age--can swim."

****Well that's a ridiculous reason in my opinion.***

Another reason Jane's mother inserts for necessary swimming ability is, "What if Uncle Frank tries to throw you in the pond at the Fourth of July picnic?" "(Jane) didn't say anything then because that has a very good chance of happening, and there isn't really any way out once Uncle Frank gets you, except holding your breath for a really, really long time, which might spoil the day for everyone else, even though the ambulance would come and (Jane) would get to ride inside it while they saved (Jane's) life."

***How about, instead, it not being okay for an uncle to throw a young child who doesn't know how to swim into water?***

And the end is no better. Jimmy (Jane's enemy and swim lesson partner) is shown hiding behind a nearby bush with a panic-stricken face while Jane is hysterical over his swim trunks floating alone in the pool.

[Shelley]

I like this book. I enjoyed how it was written by the character and she just chatted her opinion and thoughts as random as they were...but it was like you were in her head, and it really helped you feel connected to the character and all of her thoughts and fears about swimming.
So it made the end where she changed her opinion about swimming seem all the more victorious. And left me and my four and six-year-old smiling.

[Katey]

This book is cute with fun pictures. I like the message it has to offer about swimming safety. It even has a short blurb National Safety Council.

[JS]

Probably good if a kid is afraid of swimming.

[M.]

This book was written as an assignment for a senior English class. The teacher encouraged the author to publish her story. I'm glad she did.

[The Brothers]

An all right story about a little girl determined not to go to swimming lessons, but in the end she does and finds that she really enjoys it.

Kinda groovy illustrations.

[Kristen Dutkiewicz]

A young girl must face her fears and learn how to swim.