Summer Is Here

by Renée Watson, Bea Jackson (Illustrator), Brittany Jackson (Illustrator)

New York Times bestselling creators Renée Watson and Bea Jackson offer a picture book ode to a picture-perfect summer day, from sunrise to sunset.

Summer is here!
No dark clouds in the sky,
it's a perfect day for play.
What joy will summer bring me today?

Summer is finally here, and she's bringing the most perfect day! From sunup to sundown, there's so much to do on this lovely summer day. With summer comes fresh fruit, sweet and tangy, jump ropes for leaping and dancing, and friends at the pool swimming and floating. Summer brings family cookouts under shady trees, gardens overflowing, and the familiar song of the ice-cream truck. This beautiful ode to all the season's sensations follows one girl's perfect day in an exploration of joy, family, friendship, sunshine, and wonder.

Her stars shimmer like spilled glitter across the sky.
I whisper a wish and say goodbye to the day.
I wish summer would stay.

Renée Watson celebrates iconic childhood joys in this love letter to summer featuring bright, sun-drenched art from Bea Jackson.

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Storytime, Childrens, Family, Friendship, African American

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

Renée Watson is the author of the children’s picture book, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen (Random House, June 2010), which was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Her middle grade novel, What Momma Left Me debuted as the New Voice for 2010 in middle grade fiction by The Independent Children's Booksellers Association.

Renée’s one woman show, Roses are Red, Women are Blue, debuted at New York City's Lincoln Center at a showcase for emerging artists. Her poetry and articles have been published in Rethinking Schools, Theatre of the Mind and With Hearts Ablaze.

When Renée is not writing and performing, she is teaching. Renée has worked in public schools and community organizations as an artist in residence for several years, teaching poetry, fiction, and theater in Oregon, Louisiana, and New York City. She also facilitates professional development workshops for teachers and artists.

One of Renée’s passions is using the arts to help youth cope with trauma. She has facilitated poetry and theatre workshops with young girls coping with sexual and physical abuse, children who have witnessed violence, children coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and children who relocated to New York City after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Renée graduated from The New School, where she studied Creative Writing and earned a certificate in Drama Therapy.

Renée currently lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Octavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since reading Renée Watson's, 'Piecing Me Together', I became eager toward reading additional books authored by her.

'Summer Is Here' is another treat from this author. This picture book is written with an announcement to readers about Summer. Renée Watson will absolutely stir up readers' senses, taste buds and all the sunny excitement when they're turning these vibrant colored illustrated pages. ☀️

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personification of summer will make the reader wish every day could be a perfect summer day. Would be a good introduction to students writing about their favorite season after reading this book. The large illustrations (pastel and watercolor) add to the fun of this story.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little late, since summer is leaving, but it was Hannah's pick at the library and who am I to argue? Beautiful illustrations capture the feeling of early summer perfectly. ❤️

[Lovee Lonii · Rating 5 out of 5]

*listened with Hendrix*

[Zahro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seru bgt ya ada musim panas. Bisa main puas sepanjang hari.

[Raven (the.readingraven) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a perfect summer book with so much diversity! It's one of my favorites to read for summer during story time at my local library!

[Nadia L. Hohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous language.

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Ages 3-5

Highly beautiful and vivid images. Sulve level of art.

[Tnicolelove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Summer Story

This was a sweet story that gave me some feelings of nostalgia. I would add this book to my niece’s library.

[Bree Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five glorious stars. Can totally see myself using this to help teach figurative language in the classroom. Adorable read.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story about all the fun things of summer. The illustrations are big and gorgeous!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly gorgeous and perfectly features all the best parts of summer when you’re a kid.

[KP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great for young readers and omg, the illustrations was just beautiful you can see all the littlest details. This has me ready for summer and cookouts! Thank you Bloomsburykids!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to feel summer in your bones, read this book.

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bright, colorful ode to summer days. A gorgeous picture book that I believe could be a Caldecott 2025 contender.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT SUMMER IS HERE
Summer joy! This book encapsulates the simple joys of a gorgeous summer day full of play and sunshine!

There is not a cell phone or TV in sight. This reminds me of my own carefree summers in the 1980s. We didn’t do much, honestly, but the freedom and joy of summertime were palpable. Maybe this book will encourage readers to get outside and play.

I love the diversity in body shapes and ethnicity in background characters. Two are overweight adults that look exactly like regular people doing regular things.

So many smiles! This is a book about joy, friendship, and love.

Lots of lush, sensory language, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. For example:

–“Two jump ropes leap and move and tap, tap, tap on the pavement.” (the words “tap, tap, tap” are dancing within the sentence)

–“Summer sings me a song, serenading me from the ice cream truck.”

–“Her stars shimmer like spilled glitter across the sky.”

This book is exactly as advertised. It’s about the joy of summer, and that’s what it is. Nearly every page has smiles and joyous characters having fun. Only the last three pages show the protagonist in quiet reflection.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I like everything about this beautiful book!

DIVERSITY
Main character is a Black girl with beads in her hair. Background characters, family, and friends are Black, white, and brown. Characters have a variety of body types and ages.

ARTWORK/ILLUSTRATIONS
Joyous, bright, and colorful! This could be a Caldecott 2025 contender!

LIBRARIANS WILL WANT TO KNOW
Would adults like this book? YES, it’s gorgeous and will remind some adults of their own childhood summers.

Would I buy this for my high school library? NO – It’s a picture book meant for young children.

Would I buy this for my middle school library? NO – Again, it’s not meant for middle schoolers.

Would I buy this for my elementary school library? 100% YES, with no reservations! This is gorgeous and may encourage readers to get outside and play this summer.

MATURE CONTENT
Language: none

Sexuality: none

Violence: none

Drugs/Alcohol: none

Other: no other concerns

[Richetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @bloomsburychildrens for the gifted copy! Looking for a great end of the school year read aloud for your elementary kiddos? (Or for parents-first-day-of-summer read aloud!) Check out this poetic and beautifully illustrated celebration of excitement for the summer season. It takes you through an ideal summer day from wake-up to bedtime.

Reading this book brought me so many feelings of warmth and joy! Every time a new activity is mentioned like eating fresh fruit in the morning, jumping rope, swimming at the pool or eating ice cream, I found myself adding to a mental Summer bucket list of what I want to do with my kids this summer! I love how Watson weaves so much joy into her language and poetry. My kids got more excited with each activity mentioned too!

Bea Jackson grabbed my heart with her beautiful illustrations that represent all body types! I actually had to keep pausing while I read it with my kids because they kept exclaiming “That’s you Mommy!” Or “That’s me and that’s my sister!”

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful lyrical verse as a young girl recounts the activities, food, sights and sounds of her favorite season, coupled with some of the most beautiful illustrations I’ve seen in a long time. Bea Jackson’s pastel, oil paint and watercolor work spreads across the pages and turns Renee Watson’s story of family, friends and fun into an absolute delight for the senses. Text is filled with personification, simile, alliteration and vivid verbs, making this an excellent mentor text for good writing.

Outstanding picture book that is a must have for all libraries! Representation: The main character is Black and lives with her mother and father; neighbors and friends are Black, Hispanic and Caucasian.

Thanks for sending a finished copy for preview, Renee Watson and Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a big, bold, brightly illustrated picture book, the author writes of one little girl who is doing her best to soak up all that summer has to offer. "Summer tiptoes into my room..." "Summer brings me a feast of fresh fruit... I eat 'til I'm full, full, full." Watson describes the girls' swimsuits that "float in the water like lily pads."

This would be a great participatory book to use with small children that could involve using all the senses, stretching, smiling, eating, blowing bubbles, running. Great for that start of summer when children anticipate the days stretching ahead of them. Bea Jackson's illustrations are big and vibrant.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Books, I received a copy of this book to be added to the children's library collection at Keytesville Library.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMAZING! Let's start with the artwork. So beautiful. Wow! Just a delight to look at. Each page could be framed. Lovely. She created them digitally after blending in some pastel oil paint a brushes to create texture. The colors are bold and bright and oh, it's the ideal summer. The people are so beautiful. I mean seriously. They glow in their joy. They are radiant. It's some of the most beautiful people artwork I have seen.

It's not my favorite time of year due to the heat, but there was a time I love it and this book takes me back to my childhood and that love of summer.

This is an ode to summer, that ideal time. We see all the ways we float in the summer, It's a slow time that goes so fast.

Anyone that loves summer and artwork will love this book.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every kid who has just finished school will immediately relate to Summer Is Here. The season is ripe with possibilities, and author Renée Watson hits on so many of them. With each turn of the page Watson asks readers to savor the moment, savor the little things and the big. Illustrator Bea Jackson captures the joy and wonder with bright and expressive illustrations. Particularly strong are her illustrations of movement — jumping into the pool, jumping/twirling rope, throwing water balloons, etc. These moments capture action mid-step and feel almost like photographs.

Summer Is Here is a joyful picture book that makes you smile.

[LaShonda Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here comes... Summer is finally here, and she's bringing the most perfect day! Sunup to Sundown, there's so much to do on this lovely summer day. Summer brings the fresh fruit, sweet and tangy, jump ropes for leaping and dancing, and friends at the pool swimming and floating. Summer brings family cookouts under shady trees, gardens overflowing, and the familiar song of the ice-cream truck. This beautiful ohmage to all the seasons brought through from the perspective of author: Renee Watson and the sensations that will follow one girl's perfect day in an exploration of joy, family, friendship, sunshine, and wonder.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous ode to the season of warm weather, outdoor play, barbecues, and ice cream.






I love the warm and cozy illustrations by Bea Jackson!

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: A young girl wakes up on a sunny summer day and eats a breakfast of fruit. She then goes to play in the pool with her friends. Throughout the day, she also plays Double Dutch, goes on a picnic, throws water balloons, eats ice cream, and partakes in other activities. As the day comes to an end, she wishes that summer would stay.

Comments: Young readers will enjoy an action-packed summer day full of activities they can relate to.

The illustrations were created using a variety of pastel, oil paint, and watercolor brushes and Photoshopped.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl loves summer and doesn't want it to leave. She goes over all things "summer-y" like water balloons, swimming, ice cream, bubbles, fireflies, etc. The story itself is easy to read through, yet slightly dull. Without the beautiful illustrations, this book would really fall flat for any reader. The illustrations are the driving force behind this book. All made digitally in Photoshop. The variety of different brushes used (oil pastel, watercolor, etc.) really make each page pop with the feelings of summer. (Diamond 25-26)

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watson is a poet, and skilled storyteller, but Jackson was the perfect choice for this project. Summer is indeed present, answering the question of "What joy will this day bring?" with a full day of friendship, family, sun and water and a cook-out. It's a portrait that will evoke joy and inspire the reader/listener to pursue a fullness of their own. This little Black girl's joy is bright and infectious.

Summer is Here is an absolute pleasure to read.

[August · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very hesitant to give this book a 3 because I LOVE the illustrations and the representation/diversity in this book. Those two elements alone are a tapestry of beauty. On the other hand, the writing lacks colorful and descriptive language. Without the illustrations, this book would lack excitement about summer. This is why I gave it a 3 - though I certainly desired to give more for the illustration and diversity represented throughout the story.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beauty. Watson's words and Jackson's illustrations are a combination that warms you like the summer sun warmed the girl featured in the book.

It's a fun-filled summer day waking up to the sun, swimming, eating delicious fruit, jumping rope, and enjoying friends before the blue hues of night come calling as she sits on her bed.

It's the kind of art I'd want on a wall and the words I want echoing in my head.

[Kassi Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about a little girl being greeted by summer and what all summer brings to her. From the tasty fruits to the smell of freshly cut grass, she was in bracing it all! It used strong descriptive words that made me feel what I was reading. The bright color's used throughout the book had my eyes wondering all over the page. The illustrations tied together with the descriptive words beautifully! This would be a great book to read to a class close to summer break!

[Lizanell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written and illustrated ode to a little girls experience of the season. I loved the diversity of bodies and skin tones represented in the joyful illustrations. Wish it had a differently abled person or two pictured however. I received an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily Haage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyful celebration of the summer season and all that it brings, told from the perspective of a young Black girl.

Explores all the senses. Great read-aloud for story time. I also love that summer is personified: "Summer is here! She tiptoes into my room, waking me up with her light."

Seasons (summer), senses, nature, family, friendship