Olvina Swims
PreSchool-Grade 2—The story picks up whereOlvina Flies(Holt, 2003) leaves off, with the fearful chicken and her penguin friend in Hawaii. Hailey encourages her pal to overcome her fear of the water in stages, first in the bathtub, then in the pool, and finally in the ocean. In the end, Olvina learns to enjoy the water and appreciate a helpful friend. Lin's straightforward story will reassure nervous young swimmers. Both the text and art include whimsical moments and images, such as the ocean-dwelling fish sporting top hats and caps. The full- and half-page spreads, executed in gouache, feature delightful patterned borders and fabric designs in sunny colors. Pair this with Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz'sFroggy Learns to Swim(Viking, 1995) for a storytime that youngsters can dive into.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.