Like a gannet by Kirsten Ealand

Francie wants to be like the other kids. She loves the pool and does all sorts of things in the water, swimming like a duck, dipping and gliding, swimming with her head up like a swan, but she cannot dive like her cousins. They jump from the board and dive straight down like an arrow. She wants to look like a gannet, not a duck or swan and joins the queue to climb the ladder to the diving board. 

Nervously she climbs up, but part way she baulks, and begins to climb down. She sits by herself, blushing, wondering whether gannets blush. Her cousin comes by and offers help. He can see a way out of her dilemma. They climb together but at the top she releases Arthur’s hand because gannets dive alone. Bubby waves from below offering support. She wriggles her toes to the edge, looks over, folds her wings and jumps. She comes back to the surface just like a gannet, keeping her wings close to her body.

This charming story of being brave, of trying something new, of being helped by someone else, will strike a chord with all readers, as they recall times when they have been afraid and cautious. And when others offer help to overcome their hesitance.

Readers will empathise with Francie and her attempt to overcome her fear.

The illustrations show a gaggle of children at the pool, doing a range of activities, surrounded by the things children will see at the local pool. Francie is a delightful young figure in her striped bathers and matching cap, appearing on every page, reflecting the range of facial expressions which children will easily recognise. And they will be further fascinated as they see the differences between the front and back covers, and the endpapers, showing gannets within the pool’s walls. The gannet’s behaviour reflects the growing strength of Francis, as she takes on its actions. I love the way the gannet is shown on the covers, and readers will be enthused seeing gannet’s wings behind Francie as she becomes braver.

Themes: Swimming, Swimming pools, Bravery, Confidence, Friendship, Birds.

Fran Knight