When you Can Swim

In this debut picture book, an adult tells a child of all the wonderful experiences they will have when they have learned how to swim. From exploring the ocean to simply floating and observing the treetops, the poetic text celebrates a variety of different experiences one can have in and with the water. In the accompanying pictures, different adult/child pairs are shown with thoughtful attention paid to showing a variety of skin colours, body types, and ages.
Rather than approach this daunting topic with fear and apprehension, the narration promises a future full of adventures once this skill is mastered. The book celebrates swimming and water and offers encouragement to explore. The second person narration feels personal, and the evocative and lyrical text creates an almost immersive experience. Though poetic, the text is still clear and intelligible, offering imagery and figures of speech that are firmly rooted in reality. Wong writes about the “sandpipers tracing / the shape of a wave on the shore” and “tannin-soaked lakes / pitch-dark from tree bark / like oversteeped tea”.

The illustrations, created with pastel and water colours, are soft, hazy, and gentle, lovingly capturing the environments and the characters’ joy in them. Wong’s drawings show an intimate familiarity with these watery environments, and, indeed, in the end note, Wong writes about the visits he took to his favourite swimming locations that inspired the words and pictures. The end note also includes helpful information on water safety and leaving nature the way you found it.

With its gorgeous language and beautiful pictures, When You Can Swim is a book that may appeal more to adults than the children it is intended for. Regardless, it is a unique book that celebrates and encourages finding your place in the water.