In Unnaturally Blue, a young swimmer feels suddenly overwhelmed in a crowded community pool. What was once familiar no longer feels safe, and there seems to be no space for her fear or her tears. So she swims down, deeper and deeper, slipping into an imagined world beneath the water’s surface. There, in a strange and swampy place, she pauses with her feelings rather than pushing them away. As she rests, the girl begins to understand herself more fully, learning to accept every part of who she is, even the messy, uncomfortable ones. When she returns to the pool, changed and steadier, her quiet confidence encourages the other children to be more themselves too. Dreamlike and emotionally resonant, this picture book offers a thoughtful way to explore big feelings, self acceptance, and inner strength. With surreal illustrations by Byron Eggenschwiler and poetic storytelling by Dorson Plourde, Unnaturally Blue invites readers of all ages to imagine new ways of understanding what’s happening beneath the surface. Ages 4-8Hardcover
