Mike Swan, Sink or Swim — Deborah Heiligman

It's time for Mike Swan's first swimming lesson. But Mike doesn't want to go. He's afraid of the water. What if there are alligators? What if there's a hole in the pool and he swims to China? His best friend, Lizzie, tries to help, but she already knows how to swim. His Dad offers an ice-cream treat as a reward. But it's really Mike's own determination--along with inspiration from a peanut butter and baloney sandwich--that keeps him afloat when his only choice is to sink or swim.