Summer: Animals Share in a Poetic Tale of Kindness - Hardcover

Wenxuan, Cao

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250310067 ISBN 13: 9781250310064

Publisher: Imprint, 2019

Synopsis

Summer is a poetic, inspirational picture book about the power of kindness from two of China's most acclaimed creators―and children will discover a surprise as they turn the pages!

During a hot summer day in the grasslands, a group of animals race to claim the single spot of shade―under one tiny leaf that clings to a branch. The animals fight until they are inspired by an act of love to offer shade to one another.

Through lyrical text from Hans Christian Andersen Award winner Cao Wenxuan, the story comes alive with bright, delicate art from award-winning illustrator Yu Rong and provides a vivid introduction to animals. In the middle of the book, pages grow shorter and then longer to emphasize each selfless action and to remind children of the importance of sharing and being kind.

An Imprint Book

"An exquisitely calibrated fable." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Children will return often to enjoy the interactive opportunities." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

About this title

About the Author:

Cao Wenxuan grew up in rural China and is now a professor of Chinese literature and children’s literature. He is the author of several celebrated books for young readers, including the novel Bronze and Sunflower, which received three starred reviews. His fluid, poetic prose depicts honest, sometimes raw, and often melancholy moments of life. He has also received significant recognition for his academic research and teaching in the field of children’s literature, and he was the first Chinese author to win the Hans Christian Andersen Author Award.

Yu Rong is an award-winning Chinese illustrator of children's picture books, including Tracks of a Panda by Nick Dowson. She is especially known for her use of cut paper in her artwork.

From School Library Journal:

PreS-Gr 1-All the grassland animals, elephant, jackal, rhino, leopard, lynx, bear and mouse are fighting about who can stand under the tree that only has a few leaves. Elephant decides to take the tree for himself. Eventually the friends work together to beat the heat. There is a moral to the story about kindness, but it is told in a subtle, humorous way. Text and illustrations complement each other. For example, one page depicts the elephant under the tree and on the opposite page his animals friends are laughing uproariously, with the lynx giggling so hard he's on his back. They finally see that under the leafless tree, there is no shade. The elephant is sweltering in the sun, just like the rest of them!" Colorful illustrations add to the lighthearted mood of this title. Inside the title there is also a section where the different animals starting with lynx, let another animal, in this case mouse, rest in their shade. The pages overlap each other and are designed so readers can guess the next animal to offer their shadow before opening to the next page. It offers an opportunity for imagination and conversation. VERDICT Highly recommended for public and school libraries. This is a well written, lyrical story with a message about kindness and cooperation.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Imprint
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1250310067
• ISBN 13: 9781250310064
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Rong Yu