When You Can Swim

An ode to swimming and the beauty of the natural world, Jack Wong’s When You Can Swim is a reminder that swimming can be a joy filled experience and is an experience that is for every body.

Through poetic and lyrical text, the narrator shares their love of swimming in natural spaces with the reader. Almost like a parent or grandparent speaking to a child, they describe wild places shallow and deep and make the reader feel at ease with the idea of being in the water.

For those of us who have grown up around lakes and rivers, swimming in them has always felt like something that everyone could and should do. Jack Wong, through the rich text and illustrations featuring many different bodies, reminds readers that swimming is for everyone, even if you have never felt included in swim culture. Being at the public pool or in swimming lessons can feel intimidating and a little scary but this story offers a different perspective. It’s a reminder that there are places where swimming could feel a little less intimidating, where everyone can feel welcome.

The words are obviously beautiful but it’s Jack Wong’s illustrations that will have readers retuning to the book over and again. When You Can Swim would make a perfect addition to a family cottage or the bookshelf of those who love to explore the outdoors. The power of the illustrations to remind readers of the joy that comes from being in wild spaces and feeling the abandon of a warm summer day. I was transported back to my childhood, visiting cousins who lived on the lake and the exhilaration of swimming out until we couldn’t see the bottom anymore. By illustrating all different bodies enjoying the water he invites everyone in for a swim and reminds us all that swimming is a joy to be shared by all.