SWIMMING ALONG

Emilie and Jack are a young brother and sister off to their first day of swimming lessons. They're excited and nervous to be finally learning how to swim. Jack sings a little song to give him courage: "I'm Swimming Along, singing a song." By the end of this colorful children's book, everyone has had a great day at the pool, and even their mom is singing Jack's song! Author Lisa Herbertson wrote this book to encourage children to overcome their fears and to let them know that swimming is a fun and healthy activity. "I had a part time job as a swimming teacher, and was surprised at how many children were afraid of swimming lessons. Swimming is such a crucial skill to have, and often parents aren't quite sure how to encourage their kids." Until recently, first-time author Lisa Herbertson was a professional field hockey player in Europe. She has a Sports Journalism degree from Canberra University in Australia, and is a sports writer, based in Sydney. The characters in Swimming Along were named after her niece and nephew, who were just learning to swim when she started writing it. Catherine Kennedy is a Sydney-based artist with a Master of Art from the College of Fine Arts (UNSW).With teaching experience and two children of her own, she understands the importance of visual input in motivation and learning. "While parents are reading, children are immersed in the illustrations. I hope that the children who see this book will enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed creating them." Publisher's website: http: //www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/SwimmingAlong.html