Title: Zealy’s Very First Swim: The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba Book 2,Series 1
Author: Roe De Pinto
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1-4787-7114-2
Pages: 40
Genre: Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
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Author and creator Roe De Pinto’s Zealy’s Very First Swim, is the second book in her illustrated children’s series, The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba.
Zealy, a baby seal and her daddy were out having fun. Her daddy was showing how he could balance a ball on his nose, when they both decided to take some time to teach Zealy how to swim. So once in the water, all of a sudden Whubba, a baby Orca came up under Zealy by surprise! They both laughed in excitement. Whubba was very careful with Zealy, as they frolicked in the ocean. Then Zealy and her daddy went home to where mommy was making dinner. Finally it was off to bedtime for Zealy, which creates a magical good time to turn off the lights and kiss your child on the forehead.
This book, beautifully illustrated by Robin Gulack, is a bedtime page-turner with a galley text of very clear words, printed on a white background in a large font that is intended to be read to toddlers before they drift off into dreamland. It also will be one of their first books capable to be read on their own, as they grow up. The story is comforting, although immersed in frigid artic water – it has a warm and fuzzy theme. Each of the illustrations are beautifully laden with nautical sea creatures smiling and appearing very happy, with the intrinsic feeling of the different species getting together in their imaginary world of ocean water and ice. The alternating pages of pictures bring the storyboard quality of children’s book to a classical pinnacle of appreciation, making the series a family library “keepsake” capable of being read to generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even the characters’ names, Zealy with her spunky personality and Whubba, the big Orca are adorable!
Author Roe De Pinto created this series for her family with love in her heart. One feels the genuine kindness of the author and creator as well as the intrinsic softness of the storyline providing comfort and safety at bedtime to all children having the privilege to have this book in their family library. The take-away message of Zealy’s Very First Swim, as well as for the series of The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba, is to “Love one another today and always!” Plus as the author added on her inscription, “Be safe always both in and out of the water.”
