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Reviewed by Karen Tolentino for Readers' Favorite
Tales from the Diving Board by Linda G. Eldredge, EdD, is a story of a young girl who dreamed of swimming like a mermaid but found herself freezing after watching kids leap off the diving board at her local pool. When she befriends Delia, a fellow swimmer working through the same nervousness, the two girls slowly build their courage. Step by step, with the guidance of an older diving mentor, Marta, they eventually navigate fear, mistakes, and the occasional belly flop in a lighthearted way. Together, the girls learn to tread water, bob, watch divers, and eventually hurdle, flip, and dive on their own based on the real experience of a skilled diver. A closing photo of the author herself in mid-dive grounds the story in her own diving experience.
Linda G. Eldredge, EdD, naturally blends her storytelling with her passion for diving. Her deliberate choice to use a slow-paced storytelling approach to walk through specific diving techniques is clever because it also includes dialogue between the characters to maintain a friendly feel, instead of a rigid instructional diving manual. The portrayal of the characters is warm and distinct. The interactions normalize the feeling of fear. It also encourages young readers to take breaks and ask for help, which is important when learning something new and frightening. These small touches add the realism element to the story. Laura Brayda's illustrations are vivid and expressive, especially the step-by-step diving sequences, which are clear enough so that a young reader could practice from them. The themes of courage, patience, and friendship come through with genuine warmth rather than heavy-handed messaging. Tales from the Diving Board is a confident, useful, and big-hearted story.
