Summer's Vacation

Mother Earth & Father Time

by Lynn Plourde, Greg Couch (Illustrator)

"Summer cartwheels and shouts, "Hip-hip-hooray!

Vacation is here.

Let's play, play, play.""

Vibrant, sunny Summer is too busy having fun shaping sand castles, jumping in the waves, gobbling berries, and camping under a blanket of stars to do her chores. But it's not until she hikes to the top of a mountain and sees the dull, parched land below, that she realizes what she has done. Summer grabs her sprinkling can. Is she too late to make amends?

Lynn Plourde's and Greg Couch's seasonal saga of "Wild Child, Winter Waits," and "Spring's Sprung" comes full circle with this summertime celebration. Plourde's playful words capture the frolic and fun of vacations, while Couch's glowing, golden illustrations radiate off the pages to warm the hearts of children of all ages.

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Childrens, Storytime, Nature, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

I write kids' books--talk about a FUN job! I worked for 21 years as a speech-language therapist in Maine schools. When I got married, I got 3 & 4-year-old stepsons as part of my ready-made family. I read the boys picture books at bedtime. They fell asleep after 2 or 3 books, but I kept reading stacks and stacks of picture books and started to dream . . . maybe I could write picture books. I was already writing educational books (listening & speaking ideas for the classroom), but PICTURE BOOKS--that was different!

Different, and sloooooow! I had 13 years of rejections before getting my first book published, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, and I still get more rejections than acceptances--even after having more than 40 books published. So I'm still an author-in-training--learning to be a better author all the time.

I LOVE writing, the whole creative process. I also LOVE sharing my books with kids at schools: doing interactive readings, turning one of my books into a play, and teaching students how to plan and write different kinds of stories (i.e. problem stories, character stories, graphic novel scenes, fables) modeled after my books.

I love to try new kinds of writing such as poetic stories, a biography, a graphic novel, and more. Writing new kinds of stories is a challenge, but it makes writing fun and keeps me interested in the process.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS I've read some of Plourde's other season books and enjoyed them and am happy I finally got my hands on the summer one. Perhaps I was feeling more generous when I read the others, but I did find the text a bit awkward here in places (which I don't recall with the others I read) though the overall story concept is still charming. The idea of the seasons being children is so delightful, with Mother Earth and Father Time watching over them. Summer wants to play, play, play, turning cartwheels and splashing in the surf... neglecting her chores to do so. But, when she realizes her inaction has lead to a drought, she takes up her watering can and helps remedy the situation. The transition to her sister autumn at the end is lovely. You could read these books all in a row, or parcel them out seasonally. The illustrations here feel playful and glowing, perfect for summer.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author/illustrator team Lynn Plourde and Greg Couch conclude their quartet of picture-books about the seasonal children of Mother Earth and Father Time in this summery tale. As Summer romps and plays, enjoying a marvelous vacation, her parents warn her to do her chores, only to find that this happy-go-lucky child is always procrastinating. But when Summer sees how her inaction has led to drought and devastation, she kicks into gear, watering the land and creating rainbows...

As mentioned in some of my reviews of the earlier books about this celestial family - Wild Child , Winter Waits and Spring's Sprung - I really appreciate the central story idea here, with the seasons being the offspring of Mother Earth (the natural world) and Father Time (the passing of the days). This works so well as a storytelling device because it is literally true, as time works on the world around us to produce the seasons. Summer's Vacation was a winsome entry in the series, and draws the year-long story presented by the four books to a close. Young children will be able to identify with Summer's eagerness to play, and they will enjoy Couch's gorgeous accompanying illustrations, which capture the beauty and joy of the season. The text here had some awkward moments - on the whole, I think the first two books were stronger in the writing department, than the second two - but it was still engaging. I was a little surprised that Summer was not a boy, as that would have made everything - Mother Earth vs. Father Time, feminine Autumn and Spring vs. masculine Winter and Summer - perfectly balanced. Leaving that aside, I would recommend this one to picture-book readers who enjoyed previous titles in the series, or who are looking for summer stories.

[Shelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most children during this time of year Summer wants to play outside, build sand castles, go camping, and swim. Like most children, she also has responsibilities that must be finished first. “Just a few more minutes,” she promises to her ever-patient parents Mother Earth and Father Time until she realizes she may have left her chores until too late and then she must work extra hard fix things.

Fun rhymes keep the story moving and stunningly beautiful artwork conveys both the movement of seasons and the lessons of responsibility in Summer’s Vacation and indeed in the entire Mother Earth’s Children series. Both children and caregivers will enjoy this book.

[Devynn Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid! The illustrations really draw you in and I was definitely a summer child, loved the summer sun!

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly wonderful book

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as part of Lynn Plourde’s season books. Again I loved the illustrations.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story in rhyme about the incarnation of Summer as a little girl who wants to play each day of her reign away, but Mother Earth and Father Time warn her not to let her chores pile up. As with any child these warnings fall on deaf ears until she notices her world beginning to wilt. The illustrations are soft and fun as you can try to locate each anthropomorphised character in the sand-dunes and night sky.

[Ed McKeogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface, it might seem odd to see a children's picture book on an adult's book list--and rated with 5 stars, no less! But here's the thing: The artwork by Greg Couch is stunning, and that's why I love this book. The richness of color and clever design make Mr. Couch's art breathtaking. If you love good art, you'll love this book.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer’s Vacation is one of a four part picture book set describing the changing of the seasons in a beautiful and unique way. These very earthy illustrations are absolutely stunning, depicting “summer time” as energetic child too busy with play to do what Mother Earth and Father Time ask her to do.

[Kim Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book a 4 due to the illustrations and the general warm feeling of summer. I am unsure whether this book would make a good storytime . This is a much shorter book than many of her others but I liked Bella's Fall Coat better. I like that many children will understand the feeling of summer that oozes in this book. The illustrations are vivid and interesting to view.

[Richard Drown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book in the Lynn Plourde series talking about the different seasons and what they bring. Beautiful illustrations tell a great story about what the summer brings, and gives the students something to look forward to during summer vacation!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer personified as a child.

[Rachel Flan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty Illustrations. I would read this when we talk about the seasons and maybe right before school lets out for the summer.

[Olson Family Matters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story with "Summer" as a little girl. Beautiful illustrations. Madelyn really liked this one. We plan on trying the other season books by this author.

[Daleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer's Vacation is the fourth book of Lynn Plourde's books of the seasons. She has used poetry to describe the seasons. I enjoyed all four books. I now own all four

[Lynne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful, lyrical art and text, and a clever ending that has forward movement.

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical, beautiful, lovely. I loved this book and what a creative story. Fantastic.

[Emily Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sunny" book that's fun to read. Has great ties into the weather and seasons, and would be great to start a unit or lesson with.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant, beautiful anthropomorphisizing of the seasons, this time Summer.