Welcome to the Storytime at Home Series! Once a month, we highlight a kid-approved theme with book lists, songs and rhymes, and a simple craft you can try at home. All books are available in our collection, and the crafts use easy-to-find items you likely already have on hand.
P.S. Love library storytime? Check out all of RPL’s storytime options here; there’s a program for your child almost every morning at our branches!
This Month, make a splash with stories, songs, and activities all about swimming! Whether your little one loves the pool, enjoys beach adventures, or is getting ready for swim lessons, this Storytime at Home theme is sure to make waves. Reading together helps build early literacy skills, and pairing books with playful activities makes learning even more fun. So, grab your towel, put on your imaginary goggles, and dive into these swimming-themed stories and activities!
Reading to your kiddos turns them into confident thinkers. Making books a regular part of your daily routine is a great way to build children’s love of reading and learning. Storytimes also help build excitement around reading to support their literacy development.
Here are a few book options you can choose from to jump into from our collection:
That’s not my Turtle by Rachel Wells
From the popular, That’s not my… series, little ones can swim alongside sea turtles in this engaging board book. I love using this series in my Book Babies Storytimes because young learners are always excited to come up and explore the tactile elements on each page. Want more fun? Look for the little white mouse on each page.
For ages 0 – 3.
Leslie Patricelli is the queen of silly board books and a longtime story time favorite! Join these two kooky babies as they head to the beach. Patricelli’s bright, engaging illustrations are perfect for encouraging little ones to point and name objects, people, and actions throughout the story- an easy way to build vocabulary!
For ages 0 – 3.
Cat Can Swim by Rebecca Purcell
Cat heads to the beach on a hot summer day and dives into an exciting undersea adventure! This charming story is perfect for storytime, with simple, rhyming text that makes this a fun read aloud for babies and toddlers.
For ages 0 – 3.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera
Jane Cabrera is another story time favorite, and her delightful retelling of this classic nursery rhyme does not disappoint. Follow a cat and a dog down the river, meeting a variety of jungle animals along the way. With its rhythmic, repetitive text and colorful illustrations, this book is perfect for engagement during storytime!
For ages 0 – 5.
Who Can Swim? by Sebastien Braun
This interactive lift-the-flap book is a wonderful choice for early readers and curious little learners. As children uncover each flap, they’ll discover fascinating animals that can swim and explore their underwater world. For even more fun, try making the animal sounds together as you read!
For ages 0 – 5.
I Can, Can You? by Majorie Pitzer
This fun, inclusive book showcases toddler with down syndrome participating in everyday activities. Pitzer’s own photographs showcase playful movements, like swimming in the water.
For ages 0 – 5.
Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins
This perfect introduction to pool time follows Maisy and her friends as they head out for a fun day of swimming. Along the way, Maisy learns important early swim skills like putting on sunscreen, kicking, floating, and even blowing bubbles!
For ages 1 – 5.
The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan
What would you do if you went out for a swim and found a whale in your swimming pool? In this funny and imaginative story, a young boy tries everything he can think of to get the whale out so he can cool off, only to discover that a compromise might be the best solution. This book is sure to keep you giggling during story time.
For ages 2 – 6.
Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood
This engaging singing and counting book invite young readers to follow ten little fish as they swim through the sea together. Along the way, each fish discovers a different reason to leave the group, creating a playful counting adventure from ten down to one. With its rhythmic, repetitive text, this book is perfect for story time as it encourages participation, supports early math skills, and helps build vocabulary in a fun and memorable way.
For ages 2 – 5.
The Leo and Lola series by Anna McQuinn is a wonderful choice for toddlers. In this gentle, relatable story, children follow Leo and his Daddy as they experience a day at swim class together. With its simple text and everyday routines, this book helps little ones explore new experiences like swimming in a calm and reassuring way.
For ages 2 – 7.
All I Want to do is Swim by Marilyn Singer
Award-winning author Marilyn Singer uses nature-inspired rhymes to help young readers build confidence around swimming. Filled with playful, rhythmic text that celebrates the joy of being in the water, this book is a wonderful choice for beginning swimmers.
For ages 2 – 6.
Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling
Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling is a joyful, reassuring story that’s perfect for early preschoolers. Told in rhythmic, rhyming text, it gently supports children who may feel nervous or afraid of the water. With its uplifting tone and positive messaging, this book helps build confidence while encouraging early literacy skills, making it a wonderful addition to storytime or read-aloud moments.
For ages 3 – 5.
Winner of the 2025 Kirkus Prize, this charming picture book celebrates all kinds of bellies in a joyful and affirming way. Join Maddie at the swimming pool as she meets new friends and neighbors and explores the wonderful world around her. With its warm, inclusive message and gentle focus on body positivity, this book is a great read!
For ages 3 – 6.
Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess
Serafina is a young cat who hates water—until she spots her nemesis at swim class and suddenly finds herself ready to make some waves! This hilarious picture book is a fun and engaging read for young children, especially animal lovers, with its playful storyline and humor.
For ages 3 – 7.
Deep Blue: Swimming in the Big Blue Sea by Dashka Slater
It can be hard to stay motivated to swim when your favorite floatie loses air, but Kayla uses her imagination to find a way back into the water. She’s soon back to playing and splashing with her dad and brother in this heartwarming story. With its relatable situation and positive message, this book encourages resilience, creativity, and family connection.
For ages 3 – 7.
Jabari is at the pool and ready to jump off the diving board… right? This sweet and relatable picture book follows Jabari as he works through his nerves about taking the big leap, with encouragement and support from his family. With its gentle storytelling and emotional honesty, this book is a wonderful choice for young readers who are learning new things.
For ages 4 – 8.
Celebrate a hot day in the city by heading to the neighborhood pool in this vibrant and inviting picture book. With its colorful illustrations and lively scenes, it captures the joy of summertime swimming and community fun. This book is a perfect read-aloud choice before a trip to one of Richmond’s free community pools!
For ages 4 – 8.
Don’t Splash Grandpa by Julie Gonzalez
This humorous picture book follows a lively group of kids at a pool party with one important rule: don’t splash Grandpa! With silly antics, playful suspense, and plenty of near misses, readers will wonder if the kids can keep Grandpa dry.
For ages 4 – 8.
Hop at Swimming Class by Esther Berg
Hop, a young frog, is encouraged by his mom to take swimming lessons. After a few funny mistakes and moments of uncertainty, he eventually learns how to swim in his own way. Filled with colorful illustrations of pond animals, this charming story is a great choice for easing children’s anxieties about swim class while supporting confidence and resilience.
For ages 4 – 8.
Watermelon Pool by Bonsoir Lune
Would you swim in a watermelon? You might be tempted to eat it instead! This playful and imaginative story explores what happens when a giant ripe watermelon becomes the village swimming pool on a hot summer day.
For ages 4 – 8.
- Point at the pictures and ask your child what they see. Help build their vocabulary by pointing to pictures and saying the word aloud.
- Ask your child questions about the story: What do you think will happen next? How do you think this character is feeling? This character is wearing a bathing suit; do you remember when we wore ours?
- Read with expression and enthusiasm and use different voices for different characters.
- Act out what’s happening in the story.
- As your child gets older, count objects in a book, discuss the different colors they see, point out shapes in the story, etc.
- Snuggle up and be patient. Reading is great bonding time for you and your child. Take your time walking them through the story. If your child wants to turn the page or be finished with reading, that’s OK too. You don’t have to read every word or even every page for reading with your little one to be beneficial for their development.
You can sing these fun songs at home, or at the pool!
“If You Are Happy And You Know It- Swimming Version”
You can do this song as a baby bounce, as a movement song, or even demonstrate the action at the pool.
- If you’re happy and you know it splash your hands (splash splash);
- If you’re happy and you know it splash your hands (splash splash).
- If you’re happy and you know it then your face will surely show it;
- If you’re happy and you know it splash your hands (splash splash).
Next Verses:
- Kick your feet (kick, kick)
- Bounce around (bounce, bounce)
- Jump on in (cannonball!).
Hokey Pokey for Swimmers
You can do this song at home or use it as a way to get used to the water.
- You put your swimming hands in;
- You put your swimming hands out.
- Put your swimming hands in;
- And splash them all about.
- Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around;
- That’s what it’s all about!
Next Verses:
- Swimming feet – kick them all about
- Head in – swish it all about
- Whole self in – swim all about.
Motorboat movement song
This song is great for active toddlers and preschoolers. Have them pretend to be driving a boat fast, then slow, along with the lyrics.
- Motorboat, motorboat go so fast.
- Motorboat, motorboat go so slow.
- Motorboat, motorboat go so fast.
- Motorboat, motorboat go so slow.
- Motorboat, motorboat run out of gas.
Make a fish out of pool noodles with this no-glue craft!
That’s a wrap for Storytime at Home this month! Check us out next month for more learning and fun!
