SLJ calls SERAFINA MAKES WAVES by Matthew Burgess, illus. by Robin Rosenthal, a “hilarious [and] stellar choice; highly recommended and highly enjoyable” in starred review

★Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess, illus. by Robin Rosenthal.
40p. Dial. Mar. 2026.

Gr 1-2–

Despite the fact that Serafina loathes water, the “Powers that Be” (her parents) have decided that the time has come for her to learn how to swim. Serafina finds herself at the edge of “a disgusting pit of seething water.” Her friend Lennie, a goofy dog in hilarious swim trunks, gets overexcited and knocks Serafina’s stuffed animal, Noodles, into the water. A split second decision to rescue her beloved friend finds Serafina “horrified, flabbergasted and gobsmacked” in a soaking wet “cat astrophe.” Once the shock subsides, Serafina finds that she loves the water! Readers will enjoy seeing all her water exploits, including a grand finale of Serafina water skiing. The pictures capture Serafina’s emotional journey from disgust to triumph, and readers, especially those with a water aversion, will connect with this child’s plight and laugh right along with her aquatic adventures.

VERDICT: Rich vocabulary and a hilarious water hating cat make this a stellar choice; highly recommended and highly enjoyable.

–John Scott