A Swim in the Sea (Sue Whiting, illus by Meredith Thomas, Walker Books)

It’s the first time Bruno has seen the ocean and he’s very excited. When his family arrives at the beach Bruno is amazed and delighted, but his delight quickly turns to fear. Sue Whiting captures all the excitement of looking forward to experiencing something new, and all the trepidation. The simple text is expanded by rich, painterly illustrations, and although some are a bit heavily textured, the ocean, which is a character in itself, is suitably awesome. Meredith Thompson’s pictures are full of colour and movement; she uses a full spectrum of blue and adds bubble and froth to the sea after Bruno overcomes his fear and starts to play with the water. This would be a great springboard book for pre-school children. Not only does it describe a child’s first experience of the beach very well, but it also points out that there are many children who have not seen the sea yet, for all sorts of reasons. Bruno and his family take their dog with them to the beach—a bit surprising, given the number of beaches that prohibit dogs in this country, but that could be a talking point
as well. 

Louise Pfanner is an author, illustrator and bookseller

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews