When Summer Comes: Exploring Nature in Our Warmest Season

by Aimée M. Bissonette, Erin Hourigan (Illustrator)

Poetic children’s book celebrating nature and wildlife in the summer season.

Summer is the perfect season for families to embrace the outdoors. When Summer Comes celebrates playing and exploring in the wilderness during the summer months.

When summer comes,
and the sky soars blue above us,
and the days stretch long and warm before us,
some people head to ball games and outdoor markets.

Instead we gather our gear.

Binoculars.
Hiking poles.
Backpacks.
Butterfly nets.
Shovels and buckets for trips to the shore.

Summer’s the season when we explore.

This follow up to When Winter Comes is about the joy of being outdoors and discovering wildlife during the summer months.

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Nature, Childrens, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Aimée Bissonette was born the sixth of seven children. She grew up with her suitcase never fully unpacked - her family moved many times and she attended 8 different schools before graduating from high school. Aimée earned her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and her Law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. She has worked as an occupational therapist, teacher, lawyer, and small business owner. In addition to her books for children, Aimée has published a book for K-12 teachers and administrators on the legal issues associated with technology in the schools. She lives with her husband, family, and dogs in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely celebration of "exploring nature in our warmest season"! This book looks fun, it's filled with so many adventures!

A part of me can't help wondering if, after some kids read it, they're a bit disappointed if they were to go outdoor exploring in many areas, because the author and illustrator of this book live on the northwest coast and in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In Indiana, where I live, you're not going to find black bears (very unlikely), snow-capped mountains, tide pools, pikas, etc. That's not to say there aren't beautiful, wild places...they're just smaller wonders instead of grand.

I like that the illustrations have an African American family as our leads because there used to not be many "enjoying nature" books that feature POC characters (and still aren't a lot), but I will point out that neither the author nor the illustrator are African American.

This book is a bit small and some of the pictures have fairly small details, but it could work as a read-aloud for a fairly small elementary school group.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Summer Comes is a lyrical celebration of nature’s vibrancy during the warmest season of the year. Aimee M. Bissonette invites young readers on a journey through forests, lakes, and ocean shores, where the natural world awakens with color, movement, and endless opportunities for discovery. With evocative language and an obvious appreciation for outdoor adventure, Bissonette highlights the simple pleasures of summertime: hiking through the woods, paddling across lakes, and exploring tidepools along sunny shores. Readers are encouraged to gear up, get outside, and embrace the wonders of the season with curiosity and care.

The book’s gentle rhythm and engaging narrative are perfectly complemented by vivid illustrations by Erin Hourigan, bringing each scene to life with warmth and detail. Ideal for young explorers and families, this story also fosters a sense of appreciation for outdoor adventures. This is a beautiful and inspiring read that will spark imaginations and motivate readers of all ages to step outside and make their own summertime memories.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Winter (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and with Fall to happen somewhen, comes this love letter to the wild outdoors in summer. Here the human characters paddle canoes, bike to swimming spots in the mountains, paddleboard and just generally soak in all the wonders of the northern American summer – with never a midge or mosquito to put anyone off. We see them hike, wander, camp and randomly explore, and it's all wonderful – helped of course by the realism and craft in the art, which really does make this idyllic. If it should matter to anyone, they're people of colour, too – but this for me is about showing off and thanking the great natural world – it's not all about This Mountain and That-Hole-in-Rock National Park, it's just the non-specific, average countryside being admired. And it's very pleasant to see.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The team of Bissonette and Hourigan has created a beautiful picture book for PK-grade 2 that teaches and inspires readers/listeners to imagine and dream about all the wonderful activities of summer. The text is sparse but filled with vivid verbs and clear adjectives that are augmented beautifully by the watercolor and colored pencil illustrations that spread across the page. The featured Black family of five is shown hiking, canoeing, backpacking, playing on beaches, flying kites and more plus the full page illustrations provide plenty of detail to encourage conversation to help develop increase the vocabulary of young children. Outstanding choice for libraries serving the target age group for use by individuals or groups.

[Charlene Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!
I didn’t realize before reading it that the author and publishing company is from the Seattle area, but through the illustrations I immediately knew it was the Pacific Northwest that the author was describing.
Fun, relatable family outing story, Well done!

Thankyou to Author Aimée M Bissonette, illustrator Erin Hourigan, publisher Sasquatch Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
🌸📚🤗 Charlene @lastnownext

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join a family as they make the most of a glorious summer by spending time outdoors, and exploring nature. This is just a nice, pleasant book that makes you feel the warm sunshine, and may encourage your young ones (okay, maybe a few older ones, too) to get outside and do some adventuring on their own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sasquatch Books for sharing.

[Danielle Dyann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun book to introduce the changing of seasons to young readers. I particularly like the lyrical style of the words that make it a delightful read aloud book. The book uses some wonderfully descriptive words which I love as a way to expand my children’s vocabulary. The pictures were lovely as well and had my children saying, “I want to go there!”

[Suja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple children's book in verse depicting the outdoor joys of summer season. The book makes you long for summer. Best part about this book is the illustrations. Loved it. Very creative.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC for this book.

[Just Read VI · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute read! Perfect to read to the kids on the weekends and summer time to encourage outdoor fun! I really enjoyed that the main focus of this book was on summer and all of the outdoor activities you can do.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer months are the perfect time and weather to go outside, and explore all that nature has to provide and offer with its wonders, and scenic locations. This book emphasizes all that awaits outside in nature.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and straightforward book about exploring nature during summer time. Great to prepare a family for an outdoor trip.

[SamSamSam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I already read this, but it was so forgettable that I was able to read it again thinking it was completely brand new. Not a stand out.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool and school-age

[Jenna Daucunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for outdoorsy families. This will get your little one (and you!) excited to go camping and get outside to explore.