picture book cover with image of white woman swimming forward with eyes open. Illustrated text reads: Splash! Ethelda Bleibtrey makes waves of change. Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

 SPLASH! Ethelda Bleibtrey Makes Waves of Change

written by Elisa Boxer

Sleeping Bear Press, July 2022

pre-order here!

Ethelda Bleibtrey was a girl with guts who loved the water. As a child with polio in the early 1900s, swimming set her free. The water released her from her pain and helped her build strong muscle--and a powerful spirit. From then on, from the New York beaches to the choppy waters of the 1920 Olympics to the Central Park Reservoir, Ethelda made a splash wherever she went. For Ethelda, doing the right thing sometimes came with a price--change often does--but Ethelda helped make the world better than how she found it. Splash!

Praise for SPLASH!:

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

“This compelling story makes full use of the illustrations. The blues and greens of the water reflect both depth and movement and the shift in Ethelda’s life from stillness to freedom. The illustrator’s use of line is particularly effective, showing Ethelda moving through water and space.” ~Kirkus

Rise: A Feminist Book List, 2023 selection