Customer Reviews

Olvina Swims

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After attending the annual Bird Convention in Hawaii (I love it!--The birds choose their junket/meeting site like humans would), young birds Olvina the chicken and Hailey the penguin have a few days to enjoy the island.

Haily, wearing a blue swimming cap, and a stunning strioed one-piece, invites fully clothed Alvina to join her in the ocean. Every day Olvina declines. On the third day, Hailey asks Olvina what's really going on, and learns "Chickens don't swim." The plucky Hailey encourages her:

"Just because chickens don't swimm doesn't mean they can't. It's easy--Ill teach you." "Teach me to swim? But I'm too scared to swim." "Oh, Olvina", Hailey groaned, "Don't be such a chicken."

"Where have I heard that before?" Olvina mumbled to herself."


This enterprise will be tougher than Hailey thought: Olvina's quite afraid of water. So Hailey, who must have attended a colloquiam on "Overcoming Avian Phobias through Progressive Conditioning" helps Olvina conquer her fear by taking baby chicken steps: A bathtub (where she practices dipping her face in the water and blowing bubbles), a swimming pool (accompanied by a hilarious pictue showing a couple dozen animals diving, floaqting, and swimming--all watched by an alligator lifeguard!), where Hailey informs her that her successful effort may be "the first time a chicken has done the dog paddle," and finally a wonderful swim in the ocean, including an underwater view od the fish, seaweeds, shells, crabs, etc. that dot the seascape.

Lin really respects Olvina's fears, and shows how small steps, facts (that funny smell in the pool is just chlorine--wear your goggles and you'll be fine), the support of a good friend, and patience can go a long way in learning new things and overcoming fears. It's a wonderful story about approaching new things, but without sounding preachy. A valuable book for kids and adults to read together, I recommend it enthusiastically. It may help kids overcome specific swimming fears, suggest approaches to anxiety about new things in general, and it's entertaining in its own right.