Description "Dad, how do you swim?" It's her first time swimming, so she's a little nervous—but she's happy because she's with her dad! The excitement and joy of a blue summer, painted in beautiful watercolors On a summer weekend morning after the rain has stopped, a little girl wakes up before anyone else and rushes to wake her dad. They had promised that once the rain stopped, they would go to the swimming pool. Hugging her dolphin doll, she takes her dad's hand and heads to the pool just as promised. Along the way, they eat some spicy tteokbokki, meet a dog out for a walk, and admire a whale-shaped cloud in the sky. As they walk, the little girl asks her dad, "Dad, how do you swim?" This picture book by author Park Choa portrays the lovely conversation between a seven-year-old girl, for whom everything is a first-time experience, and her father, who wants to teach her everything—all rendered in gorgeous watercolor illustrations. Swimming for the very first time is a little scary and nerve-wracking, but the walk to the pool is filled with happiness because she's with her dad. Wanting to create a picture book that offers hope to children and comfort to adults, the author cleverly captures everyday scenes along the way to the pool that playfully echo the experience of swimming itself. On the first read, readers will be delighted by the author's witty perspective; on the second and third reads, it feels like wisdom about life being gently shared by a father, offering a deeper sense of warmth and connection. Another delightful feature of this book is searching for the hidden whale—the main character's favorite thing—tucked away on every page. We highly recommend this beautiful watercolor picture book for a refreshing, joyful summer read. The many charms and joys of swimming, as shared by a father "So, are you ready to jump into the pool?" I'll be with you for all your firsts, cheering you on! Everyone swims a little differently, in their own way. And everyone feels afraid the first time—no one can be great at something right from the start. When you're not used to swimming, you might swallow a lot of water, just like the first time you tried spicy tteokbokki and it caught you off guard. Everyone enjoys swimming in their own way. Some swim fast and competitively, like freestyle. Others relax and enjoy the gentle motion of the water, like backstroke. Some leap high like a diver, while others sink deep like when holding your breath underwater. Sometimes there are rules to follow, and sometimes things don't go the way you hoped. Dad says it's exactly this variety that makes swimming so fun and exciting. Hearing this, the little girl walks even faster toward the pool. And finally, standing at the edge of the pool, her dad asks her, "So, are you ready?" "Yes!" For the child who struggles with "firsts," the child who's afraid of swimming, the child who finds "rules" hard, and the child who needs to learn about "differences"— Many elementary schools include survival swimming lessons in their curriculum. For a child who's afraid of water, this can be an incredibly daunting experience. But beyond being an essential life-saving skill, swimming is also a wonderfully fun activity, a great form of exercise, and a truly impressive sport. Read The Way to the Pool with your child so they can experience summer in the fullest, most joyful way!