Escape the summer heat with words

By WILMA SNYDER/Correspondent

Greetings from Hickory Ridge. Do you remember summer kitchens in the basement and swimming holes in nearby creeks? Nights too hot to sleep and the shivery joy of cold movie theaters in those days when our homes were not air-conditioned?
Eileen Spinelli and Betsy Lewin remember and they have joined up to give us “Heat Wave,” an ode to summer which will give kids a laugh and entice oldsters to reminisce a little. Spinelli has written more than 30 books for children, many of them best-sellers. Lewin is the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of such books as “Duck for President” and “Click, Clack, Moo.”
Rosemary and I went to the outdoor pool and spent the afternoon climbing in and out because of thunder. The next day, we went to the indoor pool and it was closed for a swim meet. Finally, on the third day of trying, we got onto the right schedule and the right location.
We thought of our experience when we read “The Most Perfect Spot” by Diane Goode. A young boy knows the perfect spot to take his mother for a summer picnic. However, a pre-picnic canoe ride and a flock of ducks result in an unexpected dip in the lake. The hazards of a simple picnic in the park multiply with a group of horseback riders, a malfunctioning merry-go-round, and a rain storm. A perfect picnic spot is hard to find. This charming picture book is a warm summer pleasure.
Rain is not a deterrent for many little ones. “Who Likes Rain?” celebrates the fun of splashing around in puddles and catching raindrops in your hat. Written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee, this is a great book for 2- and 3-year-olds.
Ed Koch is a former New York City mayor, now a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave. He has written his second children’s picture book based on his childhood memories. Unlike many celebrity authors, Koch does not write with a ghost writer. Koch’s sister, Pat Koch Thaler, is his co-writer for “Eddie’s Little Sister Makes a Splash.” The story they tell about summer vacation on a mountain lake is readable and real. “Booklist” says it is “far from the usual heavy-handed, celebrity inspirational message.” Lively watercolors by James Warhola (nephew of Andy Warhol) are perfect for the story.
“Lazy Days of Summer” by Judy Young has a bit of everything. Built around the concept of “play,” it contains poems about favorite play activities, facts about the beginnings of specific games, directions for playing individual and group games, and playful illustrations by Kathy O’Malley. Turn off the TV, read this book, go outside and enjoy summer. Good reading.
“Heat Wave.” Eileen Spinelli. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Harcourt. 2007.
“The Most Perfect Spot.” Diane Goode. HarperCollins. 2006.
“Who Likes Rain?” Wong Herbert Yee. Henry Holt. 2007.
“Eddie’s Little Sister Makes a Splash.” Ed Koch and Pat Koch Thaler. Illustrated by James Warhola. Putnam/Penguin. 2007.
“Lazy Days of Summer.” Judy Young. Illustrated by Kathy O’Malley. Sleeping Bear. 2007.