• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

Get kids thinking and moving with this picture book about creatures that love water as much as we do. Each spread shows an animal in a watery scene on one side and a child mimicking the animal’s activity on the other. From splashing like a dolphin to fishing like a heron, from snoozing like an alligator to hiding like a clownfish, the echoing images bring to life the real ways that animals behave—and reveal how there’s a little bit of animal in all of us.
The book closes with a “Guess What?” section that provides brief and quirky facts about the animals featured throughout. A rebus at the back encourages children to read on their own and discover other ways to get up and move, by scuttling like a crab or waddling like a penguin. With Whoosh! readers will splash through the bright, engaging illustrations into a water-filled world of play and learning.

MARILYN BAILLIE has enjoyed a varied career as an award-winning children's writer, a nursery school teacher, a lecturer at the Royal Ontario Museum, and a children's magazine and book editor. She is the author of numerous beloved children's books including Nose to Toes, Small Wonders: Baby Animals in the Wild, Amazing Things Animals Do, Animals at the EDGE: Saving the World's Rarest Creatures, and Whoosh! A Watery World of Wonderful Creatures. She is a former editor of chickaDEE magazine and lives in Toronto, Canada.

Marilyn Baillie's profile page

Susan feels very fortunate to work full-time as an illustrator, with 18 published titles, including Reaching with Kids Can Press. When she is not drawing or painting, she loves to sew and make soft toys that resemble her illustrations. She also loves to visit schools to talk about her illustration process and hopes that she inspires some children to become illustrators when they grow up.

Susan Mitchell's profile page

• A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book for Kids and Teens

"There's a lot packed into this attractive picture book, lots to learn and do ... one to read and reread, and to share."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Whoosh! takes children on an enjoyable tour of the world of water and the animals that make it their home."

Education Library, The University of British Columbia

"Mitchell cleverly connects left-hand pages, which show animals in their natural environments, to right-hand pages, which re-create the scene with children. ... The multicultural cast of rosy-cheeked kids and the large assortment of everyday and fun activities ensure that readers will relate."

Kirkus Reviews

"Without solemnity, this engaging picture book draws attention to the value of something we tend to take too much for granted."

Quill & Quire, STARRED REVIEW

"This lovely book featuring the water creatures that all children seem to be fascinated with is a wonderful offering for all libraries. ... This book will engage children with its wonderful artwork, get them up and moving with its interactive actions, and teach them factual information about the wonders of the water animals they love. ... Whoosh! has it all – sparkling text, delightful illustrations, and a genuine educational value."

Resource Links

"Offers a delightful new way for children to learn about creatures that live in and near water ... For parents and educators alike, Whoosh! is worth having on the bookshelf."

Canadian Children's Book News

"Mitchell's bright paintings offer fun visual parallels between animal and child."

Publishers Weekly

"From splashing like a dolphin to hiding like a clownfish, kids get thinking and moving with this book..."

Canadian Children's Book Centre