Swimming picture books: Rhyming stories that change childhood in the water
- Feb 1
- 6 min read
Have you ever wondered how much swimming — how much water — can change a childhood?How a single rhyme, one illustration, or one simple rule can make a huge difference the very first time a child steps onto the world’s greatest playground — the water — whether it’s a pool, the sea, a river, or a lake?
Swimming is not just a skill. It is trust. It is safety. It is a relationship with water that is built from the earliest age.
That is exactly why these swimming picture books were created — as a blend of play, storytelling, and prevention — to help children fall in love with water without fear, and to give parents a reliable ally in raising confident, safe children in and around water.
Water has always been my place of meeting children
More than three decades ago, when I started working with babies (baby swimming), children, and parents, I learned one essential lesson: A child does not only learn how to swim.A child learns to love the water.
Love for water begins long before swimming
It begins with a story. With a rhyme.
It begins with rules that are understood — not memorized. It begins with a sense of safety. It begins with trust — in the water, in the coach, in the parent, and in oneself.
My own children — the main characters of these rhyming stories — have been in the water since their fourth month of life, and they swam independently before the age of three. They accepted new skills most easily through song, play, and gradual learning — in the water and around it.
My favorite moments are when I see and hear children who once held my swimming picture books in their hands reminding their peers - and even adults - how to behave in and around the water. That’s when I know the message didn’t stay on paper. It became part of their thinking, their play, and their safety - from the earliest age.
How do swimming picture books help parents?
I didn’t have to look far for inspiration. It was everywhere — in the water, at the pool, in children’s smiles, but also in their fears. It came directly from decades of working with children — the youngest ones — on the world’s biggest playground: the water.
That experience motivated me to focus even more on educating parents and everyone in a child’s closest environment - not only poolside, but far beyond it. Together, we can work on prevention, understanding, and building a healthy relationship with water - from the very beginning. Not only through movement, but through stories. Through rhymes. Through picture books.
All eight swimming picture books were created out of love and prevention. Out of the need to protect children, empower them, and prepare them for a world where water is part of everyday life.
Eight picture books - One shared purpose
Each picture book solves one problem. One doubt. One fear.
They are a bridge between play and knowledge. A way for children to love water through stories — and for parents to feel secure. Each one changes a small part of childhood — for the better.
Their strength lies in the message they carry: A message that gives children confidence and parents peace of mind.
They were created out of love — but also responsibility.
The desire to keep children safe in and around water.
To help them step into the pool with confidence — without fear .
To build healthy habits they will carry for life.
To teach prevention in the most beautiful way possible — through play and storytelling.
And to give parents an ally, not pressure. And finally, to remind parents of something we often forget in everyday rush: Swimming is not only the right sport — it is the first sport for every child.
Why are swimming picture books important?
A child’s environment — whether in a classroom or at a pool — changes every day.That means the way we pass on knowledge and swimming skills must change with them.
That is exactly why swimming picture books exist.
Jakov and Petra go swimming
The idea behind “Jakov and Petra Go Swimming” is to introduce children — through rhyme and play — to the understanding that every pool is someone’s home, with ten basic rules of behavior. When children step onto the pool deck, they know what is allowed and what is not. As a result, children are safer — and parents are more relaxed.
This picture book is a window into the world of swimming and pool rules, but also a mirror of children’s behavior on the world’s greatest playground - the water. It helps children recognize potentially dangerous situations near water, adopt safety rules, and understand the concept of safety - without leaving their comfort zone.
It is designed to help children who:
have never been to a pool before,
don’t know pool rules,
or don’t know how to swim yet.
Parents often tell me that after reading this book, children remind them: “Mom, stop! It’s slippery!”
That’s why this book is the foundation of everything.
Jakov and Petra love swimming
The goal of “Jakov and Petra Love Swimming” is to explain — from an early age — why swimming is the right sport for every child and how healthy habits are formed.
Children learn best when lessons are visual, playful, and told through stories and rhymes.
This book is for parents whose child is discovering water for the first time — but also for aunts, uncles, grandparents, and caregivers who often explain best, through example and story, why swimming is such a healthy sport for every child.
Jakov and Petra learn to swim
“Jakov and Petra Learn to Swim” prepares children for their first swimming school experience.
It helps them feel comfortable in the water and motivates them to start swimming lessons without fear.
Its main goal is to relax children, motivate them, and make their first steps into swimming school easier.
It answers three common parental concerns:
You don’t become a swimmer overnight.
Breathing in water is as important as reading and writing.
It’s never too late to learn how to swim.
Jakov and Petra travel and swim
“Jakov and Petra Travel and Swim” is an educational story about swimming and traveling without limits.
Because swimming — like dreams — has no borders.
This is the most adventurous picture book and one of children’s favorites.
8 reasons why children should travel and swim freely:
They stay active
They feel safer
They reduce prejudice
They broaden horizons
They have fun
They understand others better
They are healthier
They grow into people with big hearts
Swimming, like reading, is a culture of living — a great journey.
Not all children feel comfortable in the sea. Some need time to adjust to waves, vast open water, and different conditions.
This book prepares young swimmers for open water in a fun, playful way.
Parents often tell me their children feel much more confident swimming outdoors after reading this book.
That was the goal.
Safe swimming
“Jakov and Petra Swim Safely” teaches children what they need to know when swimming with friends in open waters — rivers, lakes, and the sea. Prevention and education can save lives.
This book:
reminds children and parents of safety rules,
helps children recognize dangerous situations,
serves as prevention against injuries near open water
Swimming without fear
“Jakov and Petra Swim Without Fear” emphasizes that swimming creates a safer, higher-quality childhood.
Many children stop swimming in winter — exactly when the biggest progress happens. Through rhymes and guidance (including advice from the Golden Fish), children learn that swimming is not just a summer activity — it’s a life skill.
This book is for:
children who feel uncomfortable in water,
swimmers who need a reminder about safety,
parents whose child had a negative water experience.
Winter swimming
Many children stop swimming in winter — and that’s when the greatest progress happens. “Jakov and Petra Swim in Winter” shows the magic and benefits of swimming during colder months in a playful, inspiring way.
It:
· introduces children to the benefits of winter swimming,
· motivates children and reassures parents,
· reminds us that swimming is the “ship” to a safe summer harbor.
Comments