Over or Under

Over and Under

by Pip Harry

illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper

Published by Lothian Children's Books (Hachette Australia)

ISBN 9780734421807

It's perfect weather for the beach and swimming in the sea, so join Maisie and her dad as he teaches her how to swim and love riding the ocean waves.

This beautifully illustrated book in soft beach pastel colours tells the story in the most delightful way of how kids ages 4 years and over can

enjoy every moment swimming in the waves. Maisie but can swim and now her dad lovingly shows her how to be safe in the sea as she learns to read the waves. At first, just like anyone would be, she is sceptical, but with dad's help they're enjoying themselves, until she loses hold of dad's hand. Eek!

He soon finds her as she is tumbling through the water and feeling the sand and the bottom of the sea bed. Dad tells her she was dumped by a wave. Maisie vows never to let a wave to do that to her again and at first decides she is not going back into the sea.

When the time is right dad encourages her to go back in, otherwise she will always be scared. They have a wonderful time and she learns to bodysurf. This gorgeous picture story teaches young readers several things about swimming in the sea and how to overcome your fears. It also includes a handy guide of do's ad don'ts for swimming safety - essential tips for everyone.

Highly recommended.

The Author

Pip Harry is an Australian author, copywriter and journalist. Her young adult novels include I'll Tell You Mine, Head of the River and Because of You. Her middle grade novel The Little Wave won the 2020 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers. Pip's second middle grade novel, Are You There, Buddha?, was a 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book and was shortlisted for the 2022 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature. Pip's next middle grade novel, August & Jones, was published by Hachette in 2022 and was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers 2023 and the 2024 YABBA Awards, and won the CBCA Shadow Judging Book of the Year. Her first picture book, Over or Under? is inspired by a lifetime of ocean swimming and occasionally getting dumped by the waves.

The illustrator
Hilary Jean Tapper is an international award-winning illustrator based in New Zealand. She is winner of the ABIA (Australian Book Industry Awards) Children's Picture Book of the Year for 2023 and Forevability Book Awards 2022.

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