Summer Evening by Walter de la Mare has a “grab you cover.” While it needed more text these illustrations are gorgeous, but the lack of text does take away from things. Even if it just had text more sprinkled in then it has, would have made this book perfect.
A family is out and about having an evening picnic. And when the children notice the cat chasing a mouse, they follow it pass the dog and the other animals of the farm. Mostly a wordless picture book, the illustrations do tell a story. The rich colors are perfectly representing the summer evening.
Having read the publisher description this is part of a series of books revolved around the four seasons. Not having read the others, I am hoping that the combination of all of them helps connect the stories by the seasonal theme. Also, as it is based on de la Mare’s poem, I would have loved to have read that and see how he has created two different pieces of art. It looks like the winter, or Snow, is currently the only other title available. And thankfully the same author and illustrators continue to work together. This continuity helps keep the themes together.
I keep going back to the illustrations of Carolina Rabei as they are the best part of the book for me. They are terribly simplistic, but are packed full of details. They are soft and strong at the same time. They are realistic, but also have a whimsical and almost abstract look to them as well. When there is no text the toddler reader can make up their own story.
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