NORTIS GOES SWIMMING

Lamar Gordon and Liana Gordon present a tale about aliens finding friendship during a field trip to a swimming pool.

On the lush planet Venesha, all lifeforms grow up and develop magical powers. One humanoid named Nortis lives in the high glacier region, and he wakes up one morning looking forward to a field trip. After breakfast, the three-eyed, orange-skinned, pointy-eared Nortis brushes his pointy teeth; he remembers to put his bathing suit on underneath his clothes before taking a school bus with his class to the pool. Nortis’ friend Porjan asks to swim with him, and Nortis happily agrees. They notice another classmate, Jun, sitting alone and decide to invite her to swim with them, as well. The three have a fabulous time, and afterward, the trio eat lunch. The book’s overall storyline is instructional, straightforwardly preparing young readers for what to expect when going swimming. Girouard’s full-color cartoon illustrations are fun and creative in its portrayal of the otherworldly milieu; in many ways, it’s the most engaging part of the book. The tale ends rather abruptly in a cafeteria and would have benefited from a smoother wrap-up, such as an epilogue. The story’s initial magical aspect is never addressed again; readers never discover what powers Nortis or his friends have.

A well-illustrated story that will prepare youngsters for visits to new places.