"From nineteenth-century public baths to today's private backyard havens, swimming pools have been a provocative symbol of American life. In this social and cultural history of swimming pools in the United States, Jeff Wiltse relates how, over the years, pools have served as asylums for the urban poor, leisure resorts for the masses, and private clubs for middle-class suburbanites. As sites of race riots, shrinking swimsuits, and conspicuous leisure,...

From what to wear (a bathing suit, of course!) to what to expect (no, your teacher will not be a mermaid), 3, 2, 1 Jump! covers the what if's and how to's of getting in the pool for the first time. There's a lot to worry about (can I be sucked in the filter?) and even more to be excited about (when can I wear flippers?), and our narrator has thought of everything. By the time she's ready, you to will want to jump in!

On a hot summer day, Farmer Brown and the animals enjoy getting cool in the pool.

A young boy discovers a whale in his pool and tries everything he can think of to get it out.

Wearing her burkini to the community pool for the first time, Heba stands out more than she likes, but she shows her friends that she can swim and play the same way they can, even though her swimsuit looks different.

Cupcakes Sprinkles and Swirls enjoy a fun day at the new city pool and sprayground.

Scaredy Squirrel opens a mysterious crate containing a pool and as his friends try to help him enjoy the pool, Scaredy Squirrel learns that not all surprises are bad.

Señor Sasquatch wants to relax beside Mr. Blobule's pool without getting wet, but he is thoroughly splashed by the other guests, who then pitch in to dry his "squizzlefied" fur.

It's summer and Sunny is bored. Most of her friends are out of town. Her mom wants her to babysit way more than Sunny wants to babysit. There's nothing good on TV. The only cool place that's cool is the community pool. Sunny loves going there - and loves it even more when she's offered a job at the snack shack. Soon she's flinging fries and serving frozen ice cream treats - with the assistance of the very sweet boy who works with her. Life is best...

It's summertime, and Emily Elizabeth is working on her swim skills. She wants to earn the Cool Kahuna Badge, and she needs to use three different strokes, swim in the deep end, and jump off the high dive. Emily Elizabeth knows that practice makes perfect. Luckily, she's got Coach Clifford to cheer her on! Will she make a splash at the Cool Kahuna swim contest?