Safe and Gentle Exploration of Diving into a Scary, Tentacled Sea in New Children's Book

The children's book "Simfågeln" (The Swimming Bird) by Norwegian author Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold and illustrated by Mari Kanstad Johnsen offers a fresh take on the familiar theme of overcoming childhood fears. The story centers on Ella, a penguin chick who dreads learning to swim, preferring to imagine flying instead. The narrative begins with Ella enjoying a sunny day by the sea, depicted in vibrant, postcard-like illustrations by Johnsen.

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Ella has summer vacation, by the big, open sea.

However, Ella's apprehension surfaces when she contemplates the "scary things" in the ocean, which Johnsen vividly portrays as a "blue, painterly inferno" filled with tentacles, jaws, and sea monsters. The tension escalates with the arrival of Ella's adventurous grandmother, who, despite a crab on her head, insists Ella must learn to swim, dive, and float. The book is the second collaboration between Skomsvold and Johnsen, following their similarly animal-centric "Djuren sover" (The Animals Sleep).

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There are probably other things too, that she doesn't want to encounter. Submarines and crocodiles. Sea monsters.

While acknowledging the well-trodden narrative ground of facing fears, the review commends Skomsvold's "calm, purring tone" for providing a solid foundation. This allows Johnsen's illustrations to truly shine, transforming the potentially daunting subject matter into an engaging and visually rich experience for young readers. The book is recommended for ages three and up.

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I'd rather learn to fly, says Ella. But Grandma is insistent. We're going to swim here! Float! Dive! Maybe, maybe, even fly, if you're lucky.