Customer Reviews

Loon Summer

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An ideal picturebook story for ages 5 and older, Barbara Santucci's Loon Summer is the story of Rainier and her dad as the spend time together on a lakeside cottage. Rainie misses her mom (who no longer lives with her dad), and throughout the summer she watches a pair of loons lay their eggs, hatch babies, and form a loon family. Beautifully illustrated by Andrea Shine, Loon Summer is very highly recommended for family, school, community library collections, as the hopeful story of a child adjusting to the difficult realities of separated parents but who is able to grow in her trust and understanding of the unconditional love her parents will always have for her as their daughter.

The Bible doesn't encourage divorce, but it testifies to the painful reality of it. In our world today, divorce is a major problem. This problem painfully impacts children, and even Christian children. How are children to cope with the reality of a new divorce?

While I would hope that divorce would be rare in conservative Christian circles, I know it isn't. I never really thought about what to do with and how to help children affected by the problems of their parents before. I've been blessed to not have to think too carefully about this up until recently.

This book from Eerdmans is an attempt to help express the emotions and difficulties of a young girl who realizes family vacations aren't and won't be the same without having both her mom and dad with her. The dad and his daughter spend time together at the lake in their cabin. By the end of the book, the girl is more at peace with this new reality, she loves her dad, and her mom both. It's sad reading, but I think for older children recently impacted by divorce or even with the death of a parent, this book may help them cope and be a blessing.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Eerdman Books for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Divorce reminds me of the grieving process. It's a loss...a letting go. The absoluteness of a new beginning can be especially difficult. Rainie's story will be a familiar and helpful one to many children. She still wishes and hopes things could go back to the way they used to be. I appreciate divorce bibliotherapy validating those thoughts and feelings. Children will also find healing and comfort in Rainie's dads words to her, "My wish is that you'll never forget how much Mom and I both love you. Even when one of us isn't with you." This is what kids want to hear....love. The illustrations are also so soft and beautiful.