Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim -- Kobina Commeh, Paperback

★ "A wonderful story to show how it is possible to overcome our fears of doing something new by accepting help from others" -- School Library Journal, starred review

Kwesi doesn't know how to swim... and discovers his grandmother doesn't either! Can they conquer their fear of water together with the help of the West African legend Mami Wata?

"How about we make a deal?" Nana rubbed Kwesi's head. "I will learn to swim, if you do."
"Deal!"

Kwesi likes spending time at the lake with his friends, except there's one tiny problem... he can't swim. But guess what? Neither can Nana Ruby! When she comes over for dinner one night, she tells Kwesi about when she moved from Ghana to the US and the history of segregation that kept her out of pools and caused a fear of water among many Black people.

"So I will never learn how to swim?" Kwesi asks. But Nana Ruby tells him they will call on the strength of Mami Wata, the sea creature of West African legend, to conquer their fears together. This touching intergenerational story teaches the importance of naming, acknowledging and facing fears.

• End notes include more information on West African cultures, including the Akan people, day names, and adinkra symbols.
• Teaches kids about the history of segregation of public pools and beaches in an accessible way

Author: Kobina Commeh
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Published: 02/03/2026
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Paperback
Size: 10.75h x 8.50w x 0.14d
ISBN: 9798888593639
Audience: Ages 4-8

About the Author
Kobina Commeh moved from Ghana to the United States as a teenager. He is an avid reader who loved to scribble sequels to books he enjoyed when he was six years old. He was inspired to write stories for children while raising his two daughters. He still scribbles in his spare time. He works as a foot doctor and lives with his family in California, USA.

Bárbara Quintino is a Brazilian illustrator and percussionist. She studied history, then architecture and urbanism, before realizing that what she really loves are the stories, the settings, and the connections to her ancestry. She has illustrated magazines, books for children and young adults, educational books, animations, and digital platforms around the world.