Although Jessenia often tires of hearing her mother talk about her childhood in Puerto Rico, she finds that the stories give her unexpected strength and inspiration when she participates in a swimming competition at school, as she imagines her arms reaching all the way to her mother's island home as she swims each lap. Jessenia's mami and younger brother, Luis, are on hand to watch her triumph in the final race of her swim meet in this story that incorporates details of her bicultural heritage into an easy sports story for young readers. Hector Viveros Lee's pencil and watercolor illustrations aptly capture the blue hues of the swimming pool and of the blue skies of Puerto Rico that exist in Jessenia's imagination. (Ages 5-8)

A young Hispanic girl learns about the value of teamwork and family pride at her first big swim meet.