Deep Blue: Swimming in the Big Blue Sea

This lyrical story follows young Kayla as she faces a common childhood fear: the vast, unpredictable ocean. After her beloved dolphin floatie deflates, Kayla is hesitant to join her father and brother in the waves, feeling overwhelmed by the "DEEP BLUE SEA." Her father, however, offers gentle, unwavering support, reminding her of her existing swimming skills and encouraging her to use her imagination. Through playful interaction, Kayla transforms her fear into a game, eventually gaining the confidence to swim freely. This book beautifully illustrates the power of a parent's patience, creative problem-solving, and a child's inner resilience when tackling new, daunting experiences. It is a thematic sequel to "Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike."

Swimming in the ocean can be scary, until Kayla uses her imagination to overcome her fears in this lyrical story for readers trying something new. When Kayla's favorite dolphin floatie loses its air at the beach, she wants to just sit on the sand. Daddy calls for her to play with him and her brother in the surf, but the DEEP BLUE SEA gulps sand out from underfoot, and a wave knocks her down, sending water up her nose. "I want to go home," Kayla says. "I can't swim without my dolphin." But Daddy reminds her that she knows how to swim and even how to hold her breath underwater. He hoists her up on his shoulders and wades into the sea. "You be the island," Kayla says. "I'll be the lighthouse." In a charming sequel to Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike, author Dashka Slater and illustrator Laura Hughes take on another milestone moment, showing that with patience, a parent's easygoing support, and a creative mindset, a child can gain the confidence to tackle a daunting new experience--and grow from clinging to a dolphin floatie to swimming through the ocean just like a dolphin!