Watermelon Day

by Kathi Appelt, Dale Gottlieb (Illustrator)

There's a watermelon growing in the corner of the patch where the fence posts meet, and Jesse is waiting for it. Waiting for it to fill up with the cool summer rain and the hot summer sun. Waiting until at last it is ripe and ready for eating. Waiting until it is ready for her family's annual Watermelon day.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Food, Summer, Kids, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 1996

About the author

Lives in College Station, TX with husband Ken and four adorable cats.

Two sons, both musicians.

Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Watermelon Day, Kathi Appelt's words (which are replete with summery, which are full of delightful similes as well as showing a lovely textual portrait geographic place, of the American South but also and thankfully so without any negative judgmentalism, without there being any sarcasm or farm and rural America related criticism, denigration and such being verbally shown and cast by Appelt) and Dale Gottlieb's accompanying artwork show how young Jesse must practice patience as she waits for her "special" and "chosen" for a huge family summer picnic watermelon to sufficiently ripen (maybe a summertime lesson in delayed gratification, but that Jesse throughout Watermelon Day also and wonderfully so is never depicted as someone who is whining, as as a petulant and complaining child, that she knows and also totally accepted how waiting until the watermelon is ripe enough will make it sweeter and will also make the family gathering and picnic, will make Watermelon Day more successful, more fun, more delightful, more satisfyingly tasty).

And thus, while there is a tiny bit of tension running through Watermelon Day, and that Kathi Appelt does textually demonstrate patience being a virtue, Jesse is always admirably (but also quietly, unobtrusively) resolute, that even when her yearning for the family's Watermelon Day is palpable, Appelt's text for Watermelon Day is delightfully and pleasantly flowing, is marvellously positively expressive and how both Jesse finding the designated for Watermelon Day watermelon, attending to it, watching it ripen, being even a bit impatient and finally being rewarded with and by Watermelon Day, with and by a large and joyous family gathering (playing, having fun, eating peach ice cream and of course first and foremost consuming her "special" and now deliciously ripened watermelon).

Now Dale Gottlieb's colourful two dimensional oil pastel (folk art like) illustrations for Watermelon Day do a lovely job reflecting and mirroring Kathi Appelt's text, and yes, and in my opinion, Gottlieb's pictures for Watermelon Day absolutely shine with the intense colours of summer and richly convey the heat of a summer day and the sticky juices of the watermelon when it's finally cracked open, ready to be consumed, ready to be enjoyed by Jesse and her family for their Watermelon Day. An absolutely wonderful and delightful five star combination of text and images, Watermelon Day is a celebration of summer (and of families getting together for a summer and watermelon themed picnic), is a love song for simple pleasures and showing how Jesse's patient waiting for Watermelon Day is joyfully and deliciously rewarded.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate watermelon...I don't like melons in general...so enjoy.
But I grew pumpkins last year for the first time...and I have decided I should just grow sunflowers and pumpkins, because I am a natural! I grew the pumpkins honestly to just have for decoration in the Fall. And I got 5 pumpkins out of one small seed. The watching it grow and nurture like the girl with her watermelon...I get it... a lot of work for just one meal. That is how I feel about my whole garden 4 months of work and one meal

[Paige Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book to read with kiddos or just to get in touch with your inner kiddo. Simple story is highlighted with action words, beautiful illustrations and depicts the growth cycle of a watermelon during the summer months. Had me craving watermelon after.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

summer, watermelon, summer food, picnic

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter (6) absolutely LOVES this story, especially the illustrations.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun day for all to celebrate. The day the watermelon is picked, and the long wait until that delicious day.

[Khadija Bensaadoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple story about a young boy who excitedly waits for his watermelon to ripe. This book could be used for a 2nd grade science lesson on seeds. The students can discuss the different kinds of seeds of vegetables and fruits. For an activity the teacher can bring different seeds and the students identify what fruit or vegetable the seeds come from. Extension: the students can label the different parts of a seed.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a watermelon growing in the corner of the patch where the fence posts meet, and Jesse is waiting for it. Waiting for it to fill up with the cool summer rain and the hot summer sun. Waiting until at last it is ripe and ready for eating. Waiting until it is ready for her family's annual Watermelon day.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry. I think the story is probably pretty good, a richer story than, say The Carrot Seed. I like cooling the watermelon all day in the lake, while there's a small family reunion going on. But the illustrations are, imo, ugly, and therefore distracting.

[Reagan Crook]

Read for library storytime :)

[Stephanie Ung · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read during a science lesson/activity. It can be used to talk about the different plants that grow in a certain seasons. This book also talks about summer so have students come up with other plants that grow in the summer time.

It's an easy book to read, one that I would also read to teach students about patience. I would remind them that everything in life, just like plants, takes time.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could see students referencing this book during a writer's workshop. The way Kathi Appelt used her periods would be excellent for students to look at and discuss why they think she did it that way. This book is also perfect for talking about being patient. If you patiently wait then good things will come to you.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not a huge fan of this book, just because the simplicity of it. This could be why the book is good though as well. I could see it being used for an introductory text when students are watching plans grow. They can see how it takes time, water, and sun to nurture and grow.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this one out at our school library since I have loved her MG books. Youngest wasn't as receptive to this one as I thought. I wonder if he lacked the background knowledge?

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK--might be nice to go along with Little House on the Prairie--where some people thought fever and ague came from watermelons. Pa goes to get a watermelon as soon as the family is well.