Summer Evening

AUTHOR: Walter de la Mare
ILLUSTRATOR: Caroline Rabei

From the Publisher:

“As a revelation of the wonders of the English language, de la Mare’s poems for children are quite unrivaled.” – W. H. Auden

Part of a quintet of books revolved around the four seasons, this is a beautifully atmospheric picture book based around de la Mare’s eight line poem. In Summer Evening, readers will join a farmer and his family as they enjoy a picnic dinner in the late summer sun. Their pet cat spots a mouse in the field and a chase pursues that includes a dog, a horse, cows, pigs, chickens, and ducks! The sparse text and bright colors give children much to look at and explore, and they will love identifying the different animals in each spread. It concludes with all the animals going to sleep, so also a great bedtime read.

With striking orange and yellow tones throughout, this conjures up perfectly the feeling of a balmy late summer evening.

Leah’s Thoughts:

This one feels like a lullaby in picture book form. The poem is peaceful and reflective, and the illustrations add a warm glow that perfectly captures the quiet magic of a summer night. It’s a beautiful bedtime read, especially if you’re looking for something calm to end the day.