No Swimming for Nelly

Praise

“Gorbachev, who excels at expressing human emotions through his dressed animal characters, crafts a surprisingly sunny picture book about overcoming anxieties with gentle support. With just a few words of well-chosen narration or dialogue on a page, the story moves quickly, but will resonate with the many children who have fears of their own. The artwork, nicely composed ink drawings with radiant watercolor washes, will quickly draw children to this hopeful, satisfying picture book.”—Booklist

“A sweet story about taking responsible risks under the guidance of a trusted adult. . . . While the story is about Nelly overcoming her fears, there is also the subtle message that we can learn much from the previous generations and their accomplishments. . . . Readers will delight in Nelly’s triumph. A recommended seasonal read-aloud and a solid purchase for any library collection.”—School Library Journal

“Three generations of women bond over swimming lessons for little piglet Nelly. . . . Fluid watercolor washes suit the watery setting and all the motion, while illustrations that vary from double-page spread to vignette set the pace. When Mommy calls them in for dinner, Nelly wants to keep swimming. Imagine! Nelly learns she can try new things when she’s buoyed by her family’s support in this thoroughly reassuring outing.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Again demonstrating his flair for creating endearing animal characters, Gorbachev (Pizza-Pie Snowman) gives a perennial picture-book motif a sweet tweak in this story starring an obstinate piglet. . . . This is a gentle, winsome tale about the rewards of well-placed trust and braving the unknown.”—Publishers Weekly