Delphine Pierce’s ‘Swimming in the Pool’ Is the Children’s Book Every Parent Should Know About

From St. Louis to Storytime: Delphine Pierce celebrates Children’s Fiction With Purpose

This is a story about how one woman from St. Louis, Missouri turned her experiences, her education, and her role as a grandmother into a children’s literary series that’s shifting the way we talk about patience, happiness, and neurodiversity in early childhood.

We’re talking about real impact here. In a publishing world where diversity often feels curated and boxed in, Delphine Pierce is showing us what authenticity really looks like. Her children’s book Swimming in the Pool, illustrated by Michael McBride and released through Shadelandhouse Modern Press, isn’t just a story – it’s a celebration. A fourth release with the Kentucky-based independent publisher, this book is tenderly crafted around Kaleb, Delphine’s grandson, who lives with autism and is nearly nonverbal. It’s a vibrant reminder of how small moments – like splashing in a pool – can become powerful narratives when filtered through love and understanding.