Sergio Makes a Splash

Sergio the Penguin

by Edel Rodriguez

Sergio is a penguin. He loves fish, soccer, and water. He loves drinking water, bathing in water, spraying water, just about anything with water! But he has one big problem; he can't swim. So when his class takes a field trip to the ocean, Sergio must decide whether he should face his fear or avoid something he loves.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Humor, Fiction, Birds

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

Edel Rodriguez is a Cuban American artist who has exhibited internationally with shows in New York, Los Angeles, Havana, Berlin, La Paz, Cape Town, Prague, and London. A regular contributor to the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Time magazine, he has created over two hundred magazine and book covers and illustrated several children’s books, including Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx, and is the author of Sergio Jumps and Sergio Saves the Game. Rodriguez’s artwork is collected by various institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution, and has received numerous awards from the Art Directors Club and the Society of Illustrators. Worm is his first graphic novel. He lives in New Jersey.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Visiting our daughter for her 24th birthday, my wife and I give her a picture book read aloud marathon (Book 4 of 11).

Sergio is a penguin who can't swim. During a class field trip, he confronts this fear with much encouragement and the help of many floaties.

I picked this up from the library because I enjoyed the author's Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey so much. This? Not so much.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get nervous every time I get to the page where there isn't anything but water. What if Sergio doesn't make it back up?

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sergio Makes a Splash / Edel Rodriguez / 2008
Genre: fiction
Format: picture book

Plot Summary: Even though he loves water, Sergio the penguin is afraid to swim in the deep water until he learns how.

Considerations: none

Review Citation:
Booklist, vol 104, number 18

"Rodriguez's delightful, digitally enhanced illustrations, created with oil-based woodblock ink on paper, make the most of flat expanses of black, white, and aquamarine, as Sergio, encouraged by his teachers and his friends, gives swimming a try."

Selection Source: Booklist reviews
Recommended age: 3-6

[Cosette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute introduction to penguins. Penguins can't fly, but they can swim. Sergio loves water, but NOT the deep kind because he can't swim. He is the only one who is not excited about learning how to swim - he is scared. Even with swimmys, goggles, and an inner tube, hr is really scared. He finally decides he is going to jump, but his aim for jumping is off. Down he goes, and under he stays. Where is Sergio? 2 double spread pages later he pops out of the water. Talk about holding your breath as a reader.
Great introduction on facing your fears.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think a swimming-themed storytime is complete without a book about a nervous first-time swimmer. Like Froggy in the classic Froggy Learns to Swim, Sergio takes to swimming like a duck to water. Unlike Froggy, though, Sergio retains some of his reticence at the end of the book when he considers going without his floats. A cute story with clear pictures perfect for sharing.

[Flossmoor Public Library (IL) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this picture book! It is about a penguin who absolutely loves water and the great things you can do with it…but he doesn’t know how to swim! When his class goes on a field trip to the ocean, Sergio has a decision to make: face his fear and learn how to swim…. or miss out on all the fun! Read to find out what he decides to do.

- Miss Emily

[Michelle Farella · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO cute!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bravery, water, penguins - a fun book for preschool story time.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergio is a penguin but he's a penguin who's afraid to try swimming. When he goes on a field trip with his class he finds it to be fun but is he up for the challenge his teacher issues?

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergio learns to love swimming when he takes a giant splash in the ocean. Luckily for him, all his floaties saved the day!

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

alright

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergio the penguin loves water, but he doesn’t know how to swim. Can he find the courage to make the big splash?

Cute illustrations.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute book about facing your fears.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and adorable story about a penguin named Sergio who loves the water but it scared to swim in the ocean. Fantastic illustrations, great for all ages.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

!zkz

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 19

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sergio is a penguin who doesn't know how to swim. He does not learn to swim in this book and instead relies on floaties, which is not good practice, and probably this picture book should come with a "don't try this yourself" warning.

[Ashton Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sergio Makes a Splash, we are introduced to Sergio the penguin. Sergio love love loves water but is afraid to learn to swim! On a school field trip, Sergio's teacher pushes him to face his fear by emphasizing that the ocean is all of the ways Sergio loves to play in water put in one place, and it's not as scary as he thinks. Sergio begins to see through his teacher's eyes and decides to make a splash, facing his fear and having a great time! I think this story is a cute way to teach students about facing fears and about different ways of looking at a scary situation. I love that the main character is a sweet little penguin who wants to swim but has to find the courage to.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last summer, I learned how to dive underwater without plugging my nose. I’m 26, almost 27 years old. This quaint late bloomer-ism has resulted in me catching my fair share of grief from my more H2O-savvy peers. Living my whole life in towns located next to various Great Lakes, I have to concede that I can see their point. Thinking back, I wish “Sergio Makes a Splash” was around when I was a kid. Not only is it an outstanding book for youngsters who have yet to take to the water, it is undeniably one of the best picture books released this year.

Sergio is an equal opportunity water lover. He drinks it, bathes in it, and ice skates on it. There is only one version of water he is opposed to - the really deep kind. Sergio is a penguin who can’t swim. On a class trip to the ocean, he comes prepared with all the buoyant equipment you could think of. When Sergio’s classmates all start jumping in, he’s not quick to follow. With some convincing and some guts, Sergio takes the plunge and discovers what he’s been missing.

“Sergio Makes a Splash” incorporates a nice mix of storytelling methods. The first page contains a diagram to explain Sergio’s physical characteristics. Symbols are used to represent what our hero dreams about at night (soccer, fish, and water). A traditional narrator explains the action, but characters speak in word bubbles. This variation keeps the interest high.

The illustrations are outstanding. The way splashing water is represented when Sergio comes up for air toward the end is notably inventive. White splattered paint explodes on the page.

While he has illustrated children’s books before, this is Mr. Rodriguez’s first time wearing the author’s hat as well. Impressive debut. “Sergio Makes a Splash” is a refreshing release.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sergio is a penguin from Argentina, way down by the South Pole. He likes a lot of things, but the three things he loves the most are soccer, fishies, and water. He loves water in all forms, from puddles to rain to ice, because it makes him feel so many emotions, happy, silly, playful, relaxed, which of course, make him thirsty for a glass of water! But as much as Sergio loves water, he’s also afraid of it because he can’t swim. He’s terrified on the first day of school when his class goes for a field trip to ocean to learn to swim. His teacher reminds him that the ocean is like a bath or a puddle, just bigger, “And you know those little fishes you love so much? Where do you think they come from?” Through much coaxing by his teacher and classmates, and reassuring himself that his life preserver, snorkel, and floaties will help, Sergio is finally able to jump into the water. And what do you think? He loves it, of course!

The eye-catching illustrations were done with oil-based woodblock ink, printed on paper, and combined with digital media. Rodriguez uses only four colors (white, black, orange, and blue) to create Sergio’s watery world and the results are magnificent. The color palate frees, rather than limits, Rodriguez to give equal weight to the composition and layout of each page. The text is short and easy to read. Speech bubbles are frequently used, which adds an element of fun.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Samantha Powley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sergio Makes a Splash was written by Edel Rodriguez and is a Bakers Dozen book. The story is about a penguin named Sergio who is from Argentina. He loves all things that involve water. He likes to drink it and he loves to play in it. Sergio likes to keep active by splashing around in any form of water he can like puddles or bathtubs or even a bucket. However, Sergio has one problem with water; he can’t swim in it. One day his class goes on a field trip to the ocean and Sergio is very worried about what he is going to do. But he decides he is going to face his fear by plunging into to the ocean. But first he gears himself up with floaties, a life preserver, and a snorkel so that he can jump into the ocean.
I think this story is great! It could be used in a pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade classroom. I think the students will enjoy the character Sergio. The story can teach students about facing their own fears. As an activity for this book, I would have the students write about something they are afraid of or a fear they have. The students would then illustrate a picture of them facing their fear or what they are afraid of. I really enjoyed this story and will definitely use it in my own classroom one day.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergio is a penguin, and he looooves the water. Just...not deep water. Definitely not the ocean. Sergio is scared of the ocean. When his class takes a field trip to the ocean to learn to swim, Sergio isn't so sure. He wears floaties on his arms, his legs, and around his waist, and when it's time to jump in, it takes a bit of time and a lot of convincing from his friends to get him to do so. But of course, once he's in, he realizes it's not so scary after all.

Lis is a cute little picture book done in black, white, sky blue, and orange; the illustrations are very emotive and fun to look at. The writing is animated and humorous. Very enjoyable book. Makes a good read aloud.

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sergio loves water--puddles, rain, baths, drinks...you name it and Sergio loves it. Except, that is, the ocean. You see, Sergio can't swim. Can he learn and be an unconditional water lover?

What I thought: A cute book. The story is good--most kids will enjoy the tale of a penguin who loves water but can't swim. This would be a good book for those kids just learning to swim. They might have the same fears as Sergio. The illustrations were very nice. I liked the limited color palette. The blue and yellow/orange really pop when paired with black and white.

Story Time Themes: Penguins, Swimming

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up solely because of the penguin on the cover, because my husband loves penguins so we love reading penguin-themed books! This one was super cute - Sergio goes to his first day of swim lessons and while all the other penguins dive right in, he is scared. Once he gets in (fully equipped with his life preserver, floaties on arms and legs, and snorkel) he loves it - but of course is still apprehensive of trying without the assistance!

This would be a great book for any children facing their fear of swimming!

[Becky H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergio loves water, but is afraid of swimming. This cute story tells how he goes on a school field trip and discovers that he love to swim too. Perfect book for those nervous to go swimming.
At our local elementary school each month families are encouraged to have a family reading night (we read a story and then do an activity that goes with it). So we read 'Sergio Makes a Splash' and then went swimming at Community Recreation Center. Its was so much fun!!

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

giggles galore! This is a very funny book about a little penguin being frightened to swim. My 5 year old giggled and giggled at the crazy absurdity of a penguin decked out in 4 floaties, a life preserver and goggles. But all the while, my 5 year old knows just what it's like to stand at the edge of the pool and be afraid to jump in.

The simple, retro illustrations work perfectly - focusing on the story, and keeping the look clean and simple. and funny - did I mention that? very funny.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this along with A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis to get a double whammy of great, design-y 3-color stories about cute penguins. I love the matter-of-fact tone ("Sergio likes many things, but the three things he loves the most are soccer, fishies, and water.") and the sweetness of Sergio. And the supportiveness of his classmates and teacher!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about penguins anyway, but this book is really special. A good read for Scaredy Squirrel fans, Sergio is afraid of the ocean, but life doesn't allow for such fear. A nice story about overcoming our fears that's both funny and heartfelt. I really liked this book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergio loves water, but doesn't know how to swim. The story of his first dive into the ocean reminds me of overcoming my own childhood fear of water. Told with simple, colorful illustrations, Sergio is an courageous, endearing penguin who my little boy loves. We have really enjoyed reading this story again and again.