Heatwave

by Lauren Redniss

A picture book from an award-winning artist that uses vibrant reds and blues to stunningly evoke the intensity of a heatwave and the refreshing relief that comes with an unexpected downpour of a cooling rain.

Sweltering. Sweating. It’s 100 degrees… even in the shade.
Games are canceled, temperatures reach record highs. The sun is hot.

Finally, a wind picks up. One rain drop. Then another. A downpour. The sun sets and the moon rises, Relief at last.

Heatwave is a book that vividly evokes a universal feeling--when the air is so hot and heavy you can barely move, when the sun is so bright your eyes play tricks on you. Renowned artist, writer and MacArthur genuis grant recipient, Lauren Redniss’s choice to use just two vibrant and contrasting colors in her artwork and spare text makes for a bold and interesting exploration of extreme weather. Even the book itself is saturated in red as if the book itself is burning up.

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Childrens, Environment, Fiction, Juvenile, Kids

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Lauren Redniss is the author of Century Girl: 100 years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies and Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout, a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award for non fiction. Her writing and drawing has appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, which nominated her work for the Pulitzer Prize. She was a fellow at the Cullman Center for Scholars & Writers at the New York Public Library in 2008-2009, became a New York Institute for the Humanities fellow in 2010, and is currently Artist-in-Residence at the American Museum of Natural History. She teaches at Parsons the New School for Design in New York City.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Remember when picture books were meant to entertain children? I can't imagine a child ever wanting to have this read to them more than once. I sure don't want to read it again.

[Vincent Desjardins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a little puzzled as to who the audience is for this picture book. On the dedication page, the artist/author dedicates the book to "all the young activists fighting for environmental justice and a healthy future for the planet." Certainly, a worthy dedication and though the book is ostensibly about climate change, except for one illustration where we see the headlines from a newspaper declaring "Record Heat Across Globe," this book could almost be about any hot, summer day at the beach, that ends with a refreshing and cooling rain storm. In other words, to me, the book didn't feel that much like a book about climate change. It felt like a book about a hot summer day. Hot days at the beach are not that unusual in the summer. Another reason I'm puzzled by who the audience might be for this book is because of the artwork. With its dark monotone illustrations, in shades of red through the first half and then later in blues, the unattractive (in my opinion) drawings look too sophisticated for a picture book audience. With its sparse text, there is no real story to follow and little in the way of characters that a reader can identify with. This is a book of mood and the mood is on the oppressive side. I can't imagine any child begging to have this read to them over and over.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huh. Considering that 100 degrees is pretty common these days, I don't know if emphasizing how horrible it is, is a good idea. Unless the author wants to inspire/ reinforce kids' and families' efforts to fight climate chance. I'll check it out, see for myself.
---
Worse than I feared. Very few words. One newspaper (!) headline "Record Heat Across Globe." Then, when the rain comes, everyone runs for shelter instead of dancing in it. Then they go back indoors to sleep.

I don't know what our grandkids are going to do. But probably not what is depicted here, any more than I would.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book design & illustrations. The readers definitely feels the weight of the stifling heat in the first half of the book, with the unrelenting red pages and drooping, lax characters that can't do more than sit out of sheer exhaustion. The startling blue introduced in one lone raindrop, then two, is such an abrupt contrast to the red that it captures the sheer relief of being cool after hours of burning sun. The pages quickly turn to all blue, with only red highlights (that quickly peter out as the storm passes and night sets). Text is minimal and the book certainly doesn't need more as the pictures do all the heavy lifting. I don't think there's enough story or concepts to use this book for a Storytime, but it's still an excellent picture book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a record-breaking too-hot day, people are eager to escape the heat. Today is one of those too hot in the city; too hot at the beach kind of days. The heatwave is visually described with redscale illustrations and drooping, slumping figures -- kids will understand right away that it is hot. Finally, the rain arrives -- drop by drop until the blue rain colors and cools the whole city.

With simple but effective text and visually descriptive illustrations, this understated climate warning is remarkably well done. Readers of all ages will appreciate the sensory experience of an intensely hot day and the relief when it finally breaks.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great use of the color red to get across the feeling of a heat wave. This would be ideal to use in June in a classroom with no AC on those really hot days .

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (it was okay)

This is newly added to our curriculum for text-to-world connections but the book didn't really impress me. I find the illustration style to be a bit grotesque. There isn't much happening in the story. I think it will fit our text to world connection lesson well but overall I didn't really enjoy this book.

[Relyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know what? I really don't enjoy children's books written for adults. I enjoy books written just to showcase an art/book design idea even less. This is both. No thanks.

Children deserve a great story with great art and design.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's particularly striking about this picture book are the colors used in the mixed media illustrations. Pulsing reds that make readers feel as though they are lying outside as the sun's rays and the hot air does little to cool anyone down fill the opening pages, which are followed by pages with blue as refreshing rain falls, first in two small drops and then a downpour. The boy, his dog, and his mother find relief in that life-giving water that eases the heat as the sun goes down and the moon rises. The misery of baking in the sun is expressed perfectly in those red pages, and the use of minimal text allows the artwork to shoulder the cautionary message as the various characters are depicted as suffering, lethargic, and trying to cope with a heat wave. This picture book would fit well in a collection dedicated to climate change and perhaps accompanying news clippings about various record temperatures across the globe. It's one thing to try to deal with an occasional hot day, but when temperatures are as consistently high as they were in Phoenix last year, for instance, it's clear that lives are being endangered by the heat and that we must take action. I wish the author had suggested some steps that could work toward change, but that isn't the purpose of the book, which functions as a wake-up call.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 100 degrees and the heat radiates off the pages of this summer scorcher of a book. A boy and his dog, along with other sweating denizens of the city, are limp wraiths on the red hot pages. Then, one raindrop – a drop of aqua on the red background – and another herald a downpour, and the red hot heat is striated by cool blue. The pouring rain turns the pages blue, and at home, there’s nothing for the boy and his dog to do but go to sleep.

Elegant, elongated figures on the fire engine red background really do make this a hot read! The cool aqua blue rain is such a breath of relief, The author has really captured heat, ennui, and relief in the languid pace, few words and symbolic colors of this artistic picture book. I think it would make a fun read aloud in a hot elementary school classroom at the end of the school year, paying tribute to what the summer will hold.

[KidLitScienceClass · Rating 1 out of 5]

This colorful book used simple phrases and illustrations to describe the misery of a heat wave: "Too hot. Game cancelled. 100 degrees. Try not to burn." Then the wind picks up and a downpour of rain begins. Characters run home to take cover, recover and go to sleep. This book received many positive reviews from professional reviewers, but I found this book to be unbearably bleak. In one picture a man's newspaper reads "Record heat across the globe." The main child character is reading books on time capsules and icebergs (which are presumably melting.) In each spread the characters look to be in distress and miserable. Sensitive children may find the drawings of people in the illustrations unsettling.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning picture book that follows the weather throughout one day. With minimal text, Redniss tells the story of a very hot day and uses red tones to capture the feel of the day as people try to cope. Then with one blue raindrop on an all-red page, a topical downpour slowly develops. As the blue tones take over the illustrations, the temperature is cooled down leading to an evening escape from the heatwave. This is such a clever use of two colors to give the reader of the sensations of the temp experiences. The minimal text makes it very accessible to young readers. It is a beautifully designed book worthy of inclusion in school and home collections.

[Lex Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen very few books use color as effectively as Redniss has to capture and evoke such an intense (and, at this time, highly relatable) physical experience. The main purpose is simply to translate the sensations of a heatwave and the mental/emotional toll it takes on people. Beyond the color and images, Redniss achieves this by peppering short, sparse bursts of text throughout the book like beads of sweat upon a brow, but this means there isn't much plot-wise to speak of. However, because of the innovative use of color and unique style of illustration this book is definitely four star worthy.

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like this story. Is it a story? I suppose it is. Basically, it's hot and people lay around miserable. it rains and they can sleep. I know it's part of life. Who wants to remember 100 degree days anyway. Yuck.

The only thing this book has going for it is the use of color. Everything is red for the heatwave, it rains and everything is blue as it's cleared off. But often, the rain on a really hot day will only make this muggy and then it's even worse. It's hot and muggy and you can't breathe.

I can't see who would want to read this. Maybe an art student. Just my two cents

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceptively simplistic, this story excels at emitting a feeling. Specifically, the feeling of the slow lethargy of a hot summer day. This is done with just the color red (and then blue when the rain falls and the heat finally lessens) and 35 words.

This is why I like picture books. Creators can take such a small, overlooked feeling or moment and make it into art. Redniss's illustrations are unlike any I've seen before. I wouldn't hold it up and say it is gorgeous, but it is striking and peculiar. I feel a Caldecott in the future.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about a heatwave really speaks to me as a person who loathes hot weather and who recently endured a week-long indoor heatwave when the a/c was broken at home and it was at least 80 indoors at all hours. The bold red pages (which turn blue when a rain shower arrives and provides some small relief) and slightly distorted drawings of the miserable people capture that inescapable tortuous feeling of being so hot that nothing else can be thought about or concentrated upon until some relief from the heat is obtained. Potential 2025 Caldecott nomination?

[Ccaywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redniss tackles climate change experientially on a k-3rd level. Intense red pages are dramatically interrupted by turquoise lines of rain. People, seagulls, and a cityscape are sketched in something like charcoal with faces and perspectives that at times reminded me of Picasso, Chagall, or Van Gogh. In the background are people who must work despite the heat. The book is dedicated to "young activists fighting for environmental justice and a healthy future for Planet Earth." For this age, it is necessary to end with relief but guided discussion could go deeper.

[Jorden · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for the art style, 3 for the story. the artwork is crazy cool, love the use of only red and a little of blue once they weather changes. the uncanny faves and expressions are unique. I love the creative freedom that kids books provides, I've always wanted to write one.

The story being about climate change is obvious but... I don't know if they really got their point across with the one to three word sentences. could've done a little more

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's black-not-white and red all over?

In the briefest of text, Lauren portrays in color ~ red ~ the anguish of a day in the city in the sun when temperatures are extreme. Each double-page spread shows a scene with a 2-3 word description of an event or occurrence during a heatwave. Swathed in red, the temperatures permeate the pages as readers view the scorching days until a sudden summer storm brings relief.

[Angela Stratton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heatwave by Lauren Redniss is a simple story that captures a hot, one-hundred degree day in the summertime. Its minimal text and red, blue, and black illustrations intensify the feeling that a boy and his dog feel dealing with the extreme heat, followed by a feeling of relief in the cool blue rain. Overall, this is a simple book that masterfully captures the feeling of an incredibly hot summer day.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inventive book! The 'hot' pages are red; you can almost feel the heat coming off them in waves! The 'cool' pages are blue; when it finally starts to rain you can almost feel a breeze! This would be a great book to use as a discussion about climate change with a small child. Simple yet very effective way to bring up the subject.

[Kirsten Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heatwave has hit and people are cooling off at the beach. Among red pages, which make the heat palpable, people try to stay in the shade and lather up with sunscreen. As the rain begins, the pages turn blue indicating a cooling off. This creatively illustrated book with very few words would make a fun summer read-aloud.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple text takes the readers along on a record hot day and how the community is trying to beat the heat. Love the red background that changes to blue when the rain comes and breaks the heat.

My animal rescue heart is horrified by a dog out on a beach in 100 degree weather, especially a brachiocephalic dog.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The illustrations in this book are so compelling and intriguing! Having just experienced a long 100+ degree heat wave, they captured my feelings perfectly! And then when it rains, the whole color palette switches. It's so amazing!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

With sparse text and a very distinctive use of color (first a highlighter redish orange and than a tranquil neon blue), this picture book offers a unique comment on the persistent heat waves that we are experiencing more and more and the relief of rain and home.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on the hottest day of the year. Elongated bodies droop under the relentless red of a heatwave. When the blue drop of rain finally appears, this blue perfectly evokes the relief from red that a raindrop provides to heat. Minimal words make this appropriate even for toddlers

[Judithcaryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heatwave is unexpected.
With the turn of each page, Heatwave feels like an art exhibit unfolding. Using red for hot and blue for the cooling off, the author conveys through color, text and fabulous illustrations the hottest day of the year. A boy and a dog experience this day together.

Recommended for ages 4 to 99 by the SEPA Book Reviewers

[Phobean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, yes. Living this right now. It’s the truth, and not telling any lies. The intentionally intense color work is brilliant. The author is obviously someone who has many years of design and illustration in her pocket.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you live in South Carolina like I do, you'll understand why this book is so relatable! The deep red color palette makes you feel the miserable heat of the story. Not sure exactly who the target audience is but I'm betting as a read aloud in the South it would go over well.

[Anastasia MacKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75