Good Reading for Kids caught up with KATE PERIDOT to discuss her book Animal Swim School, a colourful picture book that’s the perfect first book of swimming.
What sparked the idea for Animal Swim School?
I’ve spent many hours at the pool watching my children learn to swim and I knew some swim strokes were named after animals, such as doggy paddle. I like writing books about animals, and I wondered what other water skills animals could teach us. I discovered lots! I put all my favourites in the book, starting with easy ones and building up to more advanced swimming skills.
What’s something interesting you learned about an animal for this book?
Sea otters are one of my favourite aquatic animals. They float on their backs in family groups and sometimes even sleep while floating. They hold paws so they don’t float away from each other. This is why a group of sea otters is called a raft.
Do you have any fun swimming facts that you can share?
Most animals are natural swimmers. If a dog, a bird or even a cat fall into water they would automatically know how to paddle to the side, but humans need to learn to swim, and we do this by copying others. This is why we need to take swimming lessons and practise our water skills.
Do you have any advice for someone who has just started learning how to swim?
Learning to swim is different for everyone. Some children need to paddle and splash about in the shallows first while others will be quick to jump in. The most important thing is to have fun and build your water confidence, then swimming will come naturally. The lessons in the book start with fun water confidence skills and progress to first swim skills and then more advanced swim strokes. You can go at your own pace and try the next lesson when you’re ready.
What was your favourite part of writing this book?
I went to the pool and practised all the lessons. Sometimes my son, Jack, came too. He is much better at the dolphin swim stroke than I am. We’ve also been snorkelling in the sea and spotted lots of interesting creatures. Look closely at the illustrations on each page of the book. Samara, the illustrator, has included other aquatic animals in the scenes for you to spot.
Describe this book in three words.
Animal Swim School = splish-splash fun!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Peridot has written a range of picture book and non-fiction children’s books for curious and daring 3–11-year-olds. She loves writing text about animals and people that spark a quest for knowledge and sense of adventure in readers. She currently lives with her family in the sunny South of France but hops back to the UK regularly.
ABOUT THE IILLUSTRATOR
Samara Hardy has always loved to draw and knew from an early age that she wanted to make a career out of it. Samara is now an award-winning illustrator and designer who has worked with clients from across the globe, creating artwork for items ranging from greetings card and stationery to children’s books and homeware. She likes to spend her time doodling and drawing by the sea.
0 Comments