Summer’s Song: A Day in the Life of a Child by Charlotte Tinsley Rouse (Author) and Sara Jo Floyd (Illustrator)
This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views Kids version here.
Summer’s Song: A Day in the Life of a Child by Charlotte Tinsley Rouse is a picture book that explores a summer day with a little girl, her siblings, and her friends. The morning starts off with Momma cooking a delicious breakfast before the kids get ready and run out the door. The kids imagine they ride galloping horses and cook beautiful meals. They take a break to enjoy some sweet watermelon and watch clouds drift through the sky. After lunch, they go berry picking and enjoy nature while thinking about life. The kids go home for the evening, but the fun doesn’t end when the sun sets. The book includes a list of ideas for outside play, perfectly complementing the lovely story.
Author Charlotte Tinsley Rouse has crafted a charming tale. While the children’s day perhaps meanders, that seems to be the point of the picture book as it invites readers young and old to take life more slowly and appreciate everything around them—especially nature. The inclusion of ideas for outside play emphasizes this idea as well.
Sara Jo Floyd’s illustrations are delicate and lovely. Making wonderful use of watercolors and painting in exquisite details; any reader will enjoy taking in Floyd’s artwork. Floyd also perfectly captures what imagination is like for young children and the joy of the summer day these children have is clearly present in Floyd’s pictures. It’s also important to note that no page is without at least some illustration. This will help young readers stay engaged as there is always something to look at even beyond words they are learning. The text is also well balanced, so young readers have time to take in both the marvelous illustrations and the soothing text.
Summer’s Song: A Day in the Life of a Child is a delicately depicted day of young children enjoying life. This makes for a lovely picture book that is both soothing and engaging to read. Charlotte Tinsley Rouse’s prose flows smoothly and is perfectly complemented by illustrator Sara Jo Floyd’s artwork. The suggestions for outdoor play at the end of the book clearly drive home the core message.
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