One Hot Summer Day

Using collage, Crews translates the mental images of her own hot childhood sum mers into a sensorial feast for preschoolers. 'It's summer. and it's hot,' the book begins, 'Dogs pant. Hydrants are open. Women carry umbrellas for the shade.' This book provides many opportunities to discuss the senses and the unique experience of summer in the city. -- <em>Booklist</em> A wonderful concept book, grounded in ordinary events yet touched with magic, that will strike a familiar chord with preschool audiences while enlarging their perceptions. -- Horn Book Magazine The debut of a welcome new voice and vision, in photographs of a steamy summer cityscape and remembrances of the hottest of days. -- <em>Kirkus Reviews</em> Arresting multi-perspective photographs collages depict the ebullient girl drawing chalk pictures on the pavement, playing on a swing; with this novel format Crews skillfully captures the childlike wonder at and appreciation of small delights. -- <em>Publishers Weekly</em> Clever, colorful photo-collage illustrations feature a cheerful African American girl in an appealing urban landscape. Her summer day activities include an unsuccessful effort to fry an egg on the sidewalk (it's not quite that hot), a brief visit to the local playground (it's definitely too hot to sit on the shiny metal swings), and the messy fun of eating two grape popsicles in a row. A simple story of a child's everyday adventures, told in an innovative, yet accessible style that will be enjoyed by young listeners no matter what the season. -- School Library Journal The highlighted edges of the cut-out photographs make them pop off the page, and the intensity of the glaring sunshine contrasts with the splash of the sudden rainstorm, so that the reader can really appreciate the little girl's glee as she tries to catch raindrops with her tongue and dances in puddles. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books