A little girl is nervous about swimming lessons. Claiming a stomachache the first week, she sits on the side of the pool. The second week, she still has a stomachache, but her teacher, Mary, offers to hold her, “so I could practice ice- cream scoops like the other kids.” By the third week, Mary helps her float like a starfish, even letting go (at first unexpectedly) so the little girl can float alone. This realistic, relatable look at anxiety is told in simple declarative sentences that are spare yet full of wonderful details, from the little girl’s strawberry swimsuit and too-tight swim cap to the cold, slippery floor. More important, it’s also full of comfort and reassurance, with neither her mom nor the brown- skinned teacher pushing her but instead offering just the right amount of encouragement and assistance. The little girl appears Asian; her mom is white. Honor Book, 2019 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 3–6)

New things can be scary — but as one endearing little girl discovers, it’s perfectly fine to take your time.

Swimming lessons are on Saturdays, and every Saturday one little girl has a stomachache. When she gets to the pool it’s loud, the floor is wet and slippery, and her swim cap is too tight. Her swimming instructor, Mary, says it’s OK to sit by the edge if she doesn’t want to get in the water this week. The next Saturday the girl has a stomachache again, but with Mary’s gentle encouragement, she eventually manages to make it into the pool to practice her kicks. Little by little, the girl’s confidence grows — until one Saturday comes around when she has no stomachache at all! In a charming and relatable story about trying something new, author-illustrator Hyewon Yum shows that sometimes a little bravery and a lot of patience are all you need to face your fear.