Bubbles... Up!

A remarkable fusion of text and images captures the effervescent freedom of swimming underwater: “PLUNGE!/ Under/ under/ under/ Bubbles... up!” A black-haired, light-skinned young swimmer in bright orange goggles and a striped bathing suit is at the pool with Mom and golden-haired “young one”; this is the older child’s chance to show what they can do. The movement of rising air bubbles serves as metaphor for the youngster’s exuberance: “mouth bubbles/ nose bubbles/ ear bubbles/ rear bubbles... up they rise/ And you burst through! Surface like a porpoise!” Liveliness characterizes the child’s play in the water, and Davies (Panda Pants) plays with words, too: “You under-sit. You under-talk. You under-smile. You under-walk.” Sánchez’s (Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away) inspired typography amps up the spreads; verses float in spreads of cool blue water and streams of bubbles, their movements mimicking the swimmer’s. Even a sudden thunderstorm and the clearing of the pool can’t dampen the story’s spirits. Later, as the child surfaces triumphantly with “young one”’s yellow duck, Davies affirms both swimmer and reader—“You! You... the superhero!...Wonderful you. You are a wonder”—in this fully immersive reading experience. Ages 4–8. (May)