Summer is truly here in southern Oregon with hot days, singing cicadas, the smell of dust in the air, and children standing on sidewalks selling lemonade. Today's poetry book beautifully captures the experiences, sights, sounds, and smells of summer as seen through the eyes of young children.
Lemonade Sun and other summer poems
Rebecca Kai Dotlitch
Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Wordsong, 2001, 978-1563979446
It is summer, which
means that it is time for “Popsicle Stains” and “Fudgesicle Fun.” This is the
time of year when children make lemonade, that elixir of sunshiny days that is
a perfect treat to sip on a hot day. Children who have a strong entrepreneurial
spirit set up lemonade stands where they offer cookies, cake and sweet lemonade
to passersby. Waiting for custom can be a tedious business though, and children
often wish “won’t somebody buy something, / please?”
as they wait.
Thankfully, summer is also a time when
children enjoy all kinds of wonderful activities. Blowing bubbles, playing
marbles, skipping rope and playing hopscotch are just a few of the things that
children like to do during the long lazy summer days.
Then in the evening, under the light of the
moon, fireflies are gathered until children have a “Twinkling treasure” in a
jar. Stars “like splinters / of diamonds” sparkle overhead, and on special
nights they are accompanied by the brilliant colors of fireworks, which explode
in the sky with a “sparkle! flash” and a “CRACKLE- / POP!”
In this wonderful book, summer is celebrated
by pairing delightful image-rich poems with warm, expressive illustrations.
Children and grownups alike will enjoy exploring the verse, which seem to
radiate with sunshine and happy laughter.
No comments:
Post a Comment