Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS-Leo (of Lola Reads to Leo fame) loves the water. In preparation for an upcoming swim class, the toddler and his dad read a book that gives a nod to Eric Carle's Mister Seahorse, then head off to the pool for baby/parent swim time. The families represented are of multiple ethnicities. At swim class, the children learn how to kick and splash, and Leo gets a fun ride on his daddy's back. Many children have loved other stories by McQuinn that feature Leo's older sister Lola (Lola Loves Stories), and this offering is no less delightful. Hearson's colorful acrylic illustrations are as fun and playful as the text. VERDICT A solid choice for preschool storytime or one-on-one sharing, especially to introduce a swim class or lesson.-Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Leo loves the water. He is like a little fish!" Leo (brother to McQuinn's Lola) and his daddy are off to baby swim class, where they kick, splash, and play. Thick pages with rounded corners, soft colors, and a simple text make this an inviting book for sharing. The casually inclusive acrylic illustrations show a diverse group of young swimmers and caregivers. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Leo is back (Leo Loves Baby Time, 2014, etc.), and now he happily attends a community swim class with Daddy. "Leo loves the water. He is like a little fish!" A smiling Leo is in sudsy bath water, his dark, curly head and brown body held up by a pair of strong, brown, adult arms. As the story continues, readers see Leo and Daddy interact lovingly throughout, from sitting together on a big chairviewing a swim-class brochureto changing into proper swim attire in the locker room and taking part in a class that features a pool full of other happy baby-and-adult pairs. The range of skin and hair types is commendable, even including one adult-child combination of nonmatching skin. Getting used to the off-center noses of the babies requires a little timeprobably more for adults than children. The text has some sentences that will sound delightful to little ears as little eyes view the water babies: "They swish and swoosh. They splish and sploosh." The tender and competent care given to Leo by his father is reason enough to praise this book. Also, like its predecessor, the codex itself has rounded corners and strong, resilient paper to accommodate its audience. The ending is a bit abrupt, but it parallels babies' and toddlers' tendencies to play hard and suddenly run out of energy. A welcome addition to the toddler bookshelf. (Picture book. 1-3) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
