A Parent’s “Life Saver”
A Family’s Companion to Swim Lessons
February 2008


NORTH FORK, Calif. – No sooner than a boy discovers water does he wish to learn to swim. In his new children’s book, Luca Learns to Swim: A Family’s Companion to Swim Lessons (published by AuthorHouse), Barry Shrewsbury, with the addition of many beautiful illustrations by Kat Drayton, tells the story of Luca, a 4-year-old boy who desires nothing more than to join his older brothers swimming in the deep end of the pool.

When Luca’s parents sign him up for swimming lessons at the neighborhood pool, he is immediately excited and nervous. As he listens to Angela, his warm and insightful instructor, Luca relaxes and accepts her teachings. During his final lesson, Luca achieves his ultimate goal, to be able to swim in the deep end with his brothers.

“Knowing how to swim is an enjoyable and potentially life-saving skill,” Shrewsbury states. “Some of my more memorable recollections involved children who came to me with strong fears and resistance to learning how to swim.” Inspired by their ultimate successes, Shrewsbury has written an engaging book that dissolves many of the mysteries and fears involved in learning how to swim while also providing sound, practical advice for preparing young children for swimming lessons.

Luca Learns to Swim is a one-of-a-kind story that demystifies the swimming lesson process for young readers and their parents. With this book, parents need no longer remain on the sidelines; instead they can actively participate in reducing their child’s anxiety and in their swimming education from start to finish.

Shrewsbury earned his master’s degree in athletic counseling and served as a middle school teacher in both Los Angeles and rural California. As a private swimming instructor for students of all ages, camp counselor, waterfront director and a youth coach for swimming, water polo and baseball, he is an experienced authority on water training and working with children. He has taught countless youngsters how to swim and enjoy the water, emphasizing safety both inside and around the pool area. Shrewsbury currently resides with his family in North Fork, Calif.
 Born into an artistic family from New England, illustrator Drayton now lives and works in Sedona, Ariz. She has worked with children for the past 10 years, and she currently helps kids with special needs in her local school system. Drayton greatly enjoys art projects that involve children, and this is the second children's book she has illustrated.

AuthorHouse is the premier publishing house for emerging authors and new voices in literature. For a complimentary copy of this book for review, members of the media can contact the AuthorHouse Promotional Services Department by calling 888-728-8467 or emailing pressreleases@authorhouse.com.
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)