Saturday Is Swimming Day

This story isn’t exactly what I was looking for for helping my daughter overcome her fear of swim class. She is almost three and the girl in the story feigns a stomachache for most of the story which then taught my daughter to tell me she doesn’t feel well every week when it’s time for class. The illustrations are cute, but I was looking for more of something like, “she was scared but tried it and it turned out to be super fun” rather than “she said she had a stomachache for four weeks and then floated on her back.”

I bought this book after seeing it reviewed in "World" Magazine. I have two granddaughters who were taking swim lessons. They both enjoyed having the story read to them and the feelings of the child in the book, mirrored some of their anxieties. It was so well written and such a cute story.

Great illustrations!It needs more emotional details... fear of swimming

Beautiful and simply. I read this to my daughters who have been having anxiety about swimming. The book is soothing and elegant in its simplicity. The illustrations are beautiful.

Love this story!

This book will take some pressure off little ones who are afraid of the pool. It's perfect for nervous youngsters. The young girl in this book is really, really dreading going to swim lessons. She develops a stomach ache and finds all kinds of ways to stall going out to the pool. At the lesson she won't even go in, she just watches. But she does sit on the side of the pool and get her legs wet. The following Saturday the stomachache was still there, but her teacher holds her so she can practice some of the activities. That night she practices her kicking exercises in the bathtub. She explains the steps to getting to where the girl can float by herself. In stages the happy ending does come. The author/illustrator seems to know every scary feeling the girl has and she shows reluctant kids how to cope. The colors are great, the water looks inviting, and Yum mentions how nice and quiet it is when lying with your head in the water. This is tailor-made for kids who want to explore the water but are timid. Thumbs up.

My three-year-old daughter is very apprehensive about starting her swimming lessons, so I was very excited to check out SATURDAY IS SWIMMING DAY by Hyewon Yum. In this story, a little girl feigns a stomachache to avoid her swim lessons, but once she is coaxed in by her teacher, she finds that she loves the water.My daughter loves this book and asks for it often. I like that the teacher doesn’t initially force the girl in, but instead gives her time to get used to the pool. She then holds her and gradually builds her confidence to begin floating on her own. This quiet story is very child-centered and has a wonderful message that while trying something new might be scary, it can also be very rewarding.

Swimming lessons are hard for Mary who uses every excuse to not get in the pool, tight swim cap, tummy ache, and with the help of her instructor Mary learns to love swim class. Everyone approaches swim lessons a little different and I like the patience of her instructor helping Mary ease into it. Read aloud to a child before the event and tell them about your first lessons.