Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim
Barefoot Books · Paperback · February 3, 2026
★ “A wonderful story to show how it is possible to overcome our fears of doing something new by accepting help from others” -- School Library Journal, starred review Kwesi doesn't know how to swim... and discovers his grandmother doesn't either!
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- Who it’s for
- A shared fear becomes a gentle story about courage, family, and learning to begin together.
- Themes
- Facing fears, Intergenerational support, Segregation's effects
- Genres
- Grandparent Stories, Water Sports, African Myths & Legends
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Start with this bookAbout this book
★ “A wonderful story to show how it is possible to overcome our fears of doing something new by accepting help from others” -- School Library Journal, starred review Kwesi doesn't know how to swim... and discovers his grandmother doesn't either! Can they conquer their fear of water together with the help of the West African legend Mami Wata? "How about we make a deal?" Nana rubbed Kwesi's head. "I will learn to swim, if you do." "Deal!"
Continue reading
Kwesi likes spending time at the lake with his friends, except there's one tiny problem... he can't swim. But guess what? Neither can Nana Ruby! When she comes over for dinner one night, she tells Kwesi about when she moved from Ghana to the US and the history of segregation that kept her out of pools and caused a fear of water among many Black people. "So I will never learn how to swim?" Kwesi asks. But Nana Ruby tells him they will call on the strength of Mami Wata, the sea creature of West African legend, to conquer their fears together. This touching intergenerational story teaches the importance of naming, acknowledging and facing fears. - End notes include more information on West African cultures, including the Akan people, day names, and adinkra symbols. - Teaches kids about the history of segregation of public pools and beaches in an accessible way
Learning Together
A shared fear becomes a gentle story about courage, family, and learning to begin together.
Come here for
- A grandmother-grandchild bond shaped by facing fear side by side
- West African legend alongside accessible history of pool segregation
Expect
- An intergenerational story about naming fears and accepting help
- Notes on Akan people, day names, and adinkra symbols
Where it sits
| Water Sports | 49% |
|---|---|
| African Myths & Legends | 28% |
| Grandparent Stories | 22% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- US: African American Stories
- Grandparent Stories
- Water Sports
- New Experiences
- Authors
- Kobina Commeh
- Publisher
- Barefoot Books
- Published
- February 3, 2026
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Facing fears · Intergenerational support · Segregation's effects
- Reading lane
- US: African American Stories