I will swim next time by Emily Joof & Matilda Ruta

When the child's mother takes them to the sea for the first time, they are scared and confused by its size, noise and constant movement and is happy to be snuggled in the baby carrier, safe in her mother's arms. As she grows and gets older, her mum takes her to the lake and the river but they still remain unknown and scary although each time she gets a little braver as she learns more about who lives there through the storybooks her wise mother shares. Will she ever have the courage to dip her toe in the water?

Fear of new experiences beyond our comfort zone is common, particularly for our youngest and this is a gentle reminder that it is okay to be cautious and take time to adjust to new things. It's also a reminder to parents that development is not a competition and patience and support are more likely to succeed in the long run, whether that is overcoming a natural reticence for water or something equally as daunting.

While this is an American publication with a Junior Library Guild sticker, (an indication of quality that many US school librarians rely on for collection development), it is particularly relevant to Australian audiences because so many children live in close proximity to water,. and the non-gender specific text and illustrations mean it can work with both boys and girls - there is no differentiation with fear, and it could spark conversations about other things that are causing concerns and venturing forward one step at a time, because there is most likely going to be a next time.

https://youtu.be/_VFFEXfLaQE?si=cq1MWCg31n-pAdYA

Barbara Braxton