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Summer Color!
A celebration of the wonder and colors of every child's favorite season--summer!
In this celebration of the outdoors, two rambunctious children take off on an adventure from their own backyard. In each new scene they discover the wondrous details--and beautiful colors--of nature. Even when a little summer rain threatens to dampen their grand adventure, the fun continues as woodland scenes come to life in a whole new way.
Diana Murray's spirited verse paired with Zoe Persico's charming illustrations hits a wonderful balance of sophisticated and sweet, with details that young children will immediately relate to and layered verse that will enchant readers of all ages.
In this celebration of the outdoors, two rambunctious children take off on an adventure from their own backyard. In each new scene they discover the wondrous details--and beautiful colors--of nature. Even when a little summer rain threatens to dampen their grand adventure, the fun continues as woodland scenes come to life in a whole new way.
Diana Murray's spirited verse paired with Zoe Persico's charming illustrations hits a wonderful balance of sophisticated and sweet, with details that young children will immediately relate to and layered verse that will enchant readers of all ages.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Diana Murray
30 books272 followersDiana Murray is the author of UNICORN NIGHT (an Amazon Best Book of the Year from the bestselling UNICORN DAY series) and GOODNIGHT, VEGGIES (a Jr. Library Guild Selection), as well as many other picture books and early readers. Diana grew up in New York City and still lives nearby with her husband, two creative kids, and a dancing dog. http://www.dianamurray.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 25, 2018
Oh my gosh, I absolutely love this book! (I can't believe it has such a low rating). What I love is the near perfect rhyming text, the bright illustrations, the color naming, and that it's not just colors. The author makes a STORY out of it that includes all the colors. I could see it being used for so many themes like colors, rhyming, or rain/storms. It has lots of details in the illustrations great for the Whole Book Approach.
I can't wait to use it this fall with the kindergarteners. Sure, they probably know their colors, but it will help them recognize rhymes and just enrich their vocabulary with the rhymes and all the things they can notice in the pictures.
I might just buy myself a copy because I love it so much.
I can't wait to use it this fall with the kindergarteners. Sure, they probably know their colors, but it will help them recognize rhymes and just enrich their vocabulary with the rhymes and all the things they can notice in the pictures.
I might just buy myself a copy because I love it so much.
August 6, 2024
A story of very bright colors told in rhyme as a summer day changes from sunny and bright day to dark and gloomy as a summer storm passes overhead. As the storm leaves the area, the bright colors return bringing with it blue skies, and a colorful rainbow.
April 27, 2019
Magical. The artistry makes this book.
September 15, 2018
This was a lot of fun to read! I loved all the colorful illustrations... each page of this book had so much vibrancy and life to it. This a terrific farewell to summertime, and a ray of sunshine to have during those cold winter months.
June 3, 2019
3 1/2 stars
A picture book about colors and summer in rhyme. The rhyme is a bit bumpy at times and the color choices a bit forced for the story, but this is charming overall. Best suited to older children.
A picture book about colors and summer in rhyme. The rhyme is a bit bumpy at times and the color choices a bit forced for the story, but this is charming overall. Best suited to older children.
May 3, 2019
I recommend this book.
The illustrations reflect the mood and enhance the story which emphasizes COLOR as a concept. Going for a walk in the summer can mean something quite different for someone in New York City/State (the author) or in the Midwest or Pacific Northwest (the illustrator) than it does to someone in California (where I am currently a public librarian). I could readily identify with the lush woods and frequent rainstorms of summer from the many years I lived in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. However, in San Jose, this will be an eye-opener for children who read this -- rain in the summer?
I will use this in storytime as well as to show the combination of illustrations enhancing the mood of the book.
The illustrations reflect the mood and enhance the story which emphasizes COLOR as a concept. Going for a walk in the summer can mean something quite different for someone in New York City/State (the author) or in the Midwest or Pacific Northwest (the illustrator) than it does to someone in California (where I am currently a public librarian). I could readily identify with the lush woods and frequent rainstorms of summer from the many years I lived in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. However, in San Jose, this will be an eye-opener for children who read this -- rain in the summer?
I will use this in storytime as well as to show the combination of illustrations enhancing the mood of the book.
September 25, 2018
Summer Color! explores the emotion and fun that two children experience when a beautiful sunny day turns stormy. Even when it seems that the bad weather will dampen their day, the adventure continues when they discover the countryside in a very unique way.
Zoe Persico’s artwork has always been an inspiration to me, and her illustrations in this book did not disappoint! It’s super-stellar, and the story told in verse by Diana Murray is just as engaging and colorful! Not only did I love the attention to detail throughout this book, but I also enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia after reading it.
Definitely a favorite in our house, summer or not!
Zoe Persico’s artwork has always been an inspiration to me, and her illustrations in this book did not disappoint! It’s super-stellar, and the story told in verse by Diana Murray is just as engaging and colorful! Not only did I love the attention to detail throughout this book, but I also enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia after reading it.
Definitely a favorite in our house, summer or not!
July 24, 2020
My favorite thing about this book is the illustrations. It has the same feel as Disney's Johnny Appleseed made in 1948. Vivid colors, loving family. I think the word I'm looking for is Awe. Perhaps a sense of reverence for how good life is. What a beautiful book to learn colors with
* Talking Points - What is your favorite color? Why? What are the favorite colors of people in your family? Are you more of an indoor person or outdoor person? What do you love most to do indoors? What do you love most to do outdoors?
* Essential Oil Pairing Tip - I'd diffuse 4 drops Bergamot, 3 drops Lime, 2 drops Rosemary and 1 drop Cedarwood for a Summer Rain Blend
* Talking Points - What is your favorite color? Why? What are the favorite colors of people in your family? Are you more of an indoor person or outdoor person? What do you love most to do indoors? What do you love most to do outdoors?
* Essential Oil Pairing Tip - I'd diffuse 4 drops Bergamot, 3 drops Lime, 2 drops Rosemary and 1 drop Cedarwood for a Summer Rain Blend
April 4, 2019
Who loves rhyming books? Who loves books about colors? This book has all of that and more. I have done it in several storytimes (with various ages) and they all focus on a different element.
One thing I tried that was successful was asking the children to guess what color would be coming next. Some guesssed it based on the rhyming sentence structure. Others noticed the illustrations and how the one color was in particular highlighted.
Definitely will keep this book in my repertoire.
One thing I tried that was successful was asking the children to guess what color would be coming next. Some guesssed it based on the rhyming sentence structure. Others noticed the illustrations and how the one color was in particular highlighted.
Definitely will keep this book in my repertoire.
June 13, 2020
Out in the countryside, there are beautiful colors to experience. This book features sweet, easy, rhyming text, almost songlike. The illustrations are warm, soft, bright and inviting. They match well with the authors text as she takes the reader on a journey through a summer day with 12 familiar colors highlighted. This would be great as a bedtime story or for an early reader any time. Great for a rainy day.
September 27, 2020
My 2.5 year old boy's absolute favorite! We were lucky enough to have this book the majority of quarantine (thus far) while the libraries were closed. Now that it is officially due, we are buying our own copy! The illustrations are beautiful - full of energy, wildlife, and, of course, color! The color palette is gorgeous as the illustrations move in and out of the storm. The text begs for children to fill in the color word rhymes, as well as the perfect final spread!
June 16, 2018
What colors does summer look like? This book reminds me of “Red are the Apples” with its reference to a season of the year and it’s colors.
I love the text in this story, the colors in the illustrations are not what I feel represent the colors of summer.
But all in all this is a good book about the season without it’s setting being at the beach.
I love the text in this story, the colors in the illustrations are not what I feel represent the colors of summer.
But all in all this is a good book about the season without it’s setting being at the beach.
February 27, 2021
A delight to read out loud. Diana Murray's rhymes are tight and her meter is always spot on. Zoe Persico's illustrations are whimsical and evoke that classic picture book feel.
All you really need to know is that the version I checked out of the library had been loved almost the brink of the book's structural integrity. Perfectly captures the magic of a flash storm on a hot humid day.
All you really need to know is that the version I checked out of the library had been loved almost the brink of the book's structural integrity. Perfectly captures the magic of a flash storm on a hot humid day.
June 1, 2018
Pictures in vibrant colors help tell the story of kids enjoying a summer day. Rhyming, rich text sweep you along and kids will love exploring the details as they listen to this sweet story. A little too sweet for me, thus the three stars.
June 27, 2018
Kids are diverse but the book is just about colors you see in summer. Text is fine, but, illustrations are very pretty. If you need a colors book, this could be a good choice. It has a few sentences per page, so might be a bit long for toddler storytime but could be fine for preschool.
July 14, 2018
The kids notice the colors of the porch and flowers in their yard, then they take off into the woods to find more colors. But a storm chases them through the woods and back home again where they find a colorful rainbow after the storm.
September 23, 2018
Every color of the rainbow (and then some) can be experienced on a warm summer day that suddenly turns stormy.
Beautiful, lyrical phrases that evoke all the joy of being a child outside in the summertime ... days spent on Grandpa’s farm and the beauty of nature.
Beautiful, lyrical phrases that evoke all the joy of being a child outside in the summertime ... days spent on Grandpa’s farm and the beauty of nature.
October 25, 2020
A book that is in rhyme or rhyme scheme and tells the joys of the summer season and the pictures are across the gutter in a two-page spread. Shows the happiness and the fun to look forward to each summer and includes the colors of summer as well.
April 2, 2024
My 5 year old fell in love with this book, and has requested to re-check it out from the library three times. It is not to long, and the poem is pleasant, so it has not been painful reading it every other night for almost a month. :)
May 17, 2025
loved this one too. the rhyming text and the wonderful, colorful illustrations. i'm not sure what i'll use this for in storytime but i have a few ideas. rainbow, colors, or the day after a thunderstorm?
August 19, 2025
This book has beautiful colorful illustrations, and I love poetic highlight of each color and the integration of all the sights and sounds and the changes in nature that can take place on a summers day
May 10, 2018
Nice rhyming throughout.
May 15, 2018
Bright and diverse illustrations accompanied by a less than inspiring rhyming story.
May 18, 2018
A colorful, rhyming celebration of the season.
May 21, 2018
3.5*
June 17, 2018
Good color book for older readers with a racially-diverse cast of characters, and a 'meh' story.
June 20, 2018
Beautiful colors and descriptions that capture the emotions in the illustrations and the story.
July 9, 2018
Can you tell I love summer? And a good summer storm is a beautiful thing.
July 18, 2018
A summer rain storm fills three children's lives with all sorts of colors. preschool and up
July 27, 2018
The color of the cover caught my attention but not the inside.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews