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  • Published: 28 November 2016
  • ISBN: 9780670078950
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

Summer



A new edition of this classic picture book by two of Australia’s best-loved children’s book creators.

June Factor’s simple text and Alison Lester’s delightful illustrations combine to celebrate a special summer’s day and all that it brings: changing weather, family gatherings, lots of fun and ... Christmas!

A new edition of this classic picture book by two of Australia’s best-loved children’s book creators.

  • Published: 28 November 2016
  • ISBN: 9780670078950
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

About the authors

June Factor

June Factor is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and the University of London and is currently Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, and an Honorary Associate, Museum Victoria. She is a well-known and highly-respected folklorist, social historian and writer, with a special interest in children's folklore and language. She is the author of the much loved children's books Far Out, Brussel Sprout!, All Right, Vegemite!, Unreal, Banana Peel!, Real Keen, Baked Bean! and Roll Over, Pavlova!. Her social history, Captain Cook Chased a Chook: Children's Folklore in Australia, was awarded the United States Opie Prize.

Alison Lester

Alison Lester is one of Australia's most popular and bestselling creators of children's books. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special.

In a career spanning decades, Alison Lester has written many books, and won numerous prestigious awards, including the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Award for her much-loved classic Are We There Yet? and the CBCA Eve Pownall Book of the Year Award for One Small Island. Her picture books include Kissed by the Moon, Running with the Horses, Sophie Scott Goes South and My Dog Bigsy – to name just a few. Alison Lester became Australia's first Children's Book Laureate in 2012, a position shared with Boori Monty Pryor. In 2016, Alison was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her outstanding achievement in the creation of Australian children's and young adult literature, and in 2018 she became the first children's book writer to win the Melbourne Prize for Literature, for her contribution to Australian literature and cultural and intellectual life.

Alison lives on a farm in the Victorian countryside. She spends part of each year travelling to schools around Australia, helping students and teachers develop their own stories.

Praise for Summer

Pre School - Grade 2: It's Christmas Day on a farm in Australia, and the busy summer day is described in rhyme. The simple, child-like line drawings colored with watercolors reinforce the changing moods of the text, ranging from a bright sunrise to an afternoon rainstorm to a star-filled evening. Each verse (except the first) is introduced by a framed illustration. Vignettes which help develop each character accompany the remainder of each verse. Each verse is followed by a double-page illustration which completely fills both pages and intensifies the mood created by the text. The pictures are full of humor - Grandma on new roller skates, Dad with measles - and are filled with intriguing details: prize ribbons on a bookcase, a broken toy, a wombat and kookaburras ... a dinosaur drawing over a bed, a child's artwork pinned up, magnetic letters on the refrigerator. Preschoolers will enjoy listening to and exploring the book; second-graders will be able to tackle the simple text themselves.

School Library Journal

Australia's summer ... [and] Christmas season ... [are] celebrated in this picture book. The sun rises one warm country day in the farmlands; the children awaken and join in as the family prepares for Christmas dinner. In spite of adversity ('Dad's got measles, Mum's got flu, Auntie Lil's locked in the loo'), the family is hard at work making such traditional Australian foods as saveloys (sausages) and pikelets (pancakes). Later, 'Puddin' steamin' in the pot,/ Pork and cracklin',/ spuds, the lot,' round out the Yuletide feast served outdoors under leafy trees. A storm forces them to run inside, but the family emerges later to sit on the front porch to gaze at the stars. The unusual Christmas setting and exotic words are enhanced by the moody, softly shaded illustrations. Gentle touches of family humor are in evidence throughout this pleasant and unusual offering. Ages 3-8.

Publishers Weekly