Summer Story (Brambly Hedge) [Hardcover]

Jill Barklem (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000 | Age Range: 3 - 6 years | Series: Brambly Hedge (Book 4)

It was such a hot summer. The sky was deep blue and the sun never faltered.

All along Brambly Hedge, the mice did their best to keep cool. Poppy Eyebright sought refuge in the mossy shadows of the mill wheel; Dusty Dogwood took to walking by the banks of the cooling stream. Dusty and Poppy spent more and more time together, so no one was at all surprised when they announced their engagement.

They decided on a very unusual setting for the wedding ceremony, but even they didn't realize just how unusual it would prove to be!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the most researched-crammed fantasy ever set before small children..." Sunday Times Magazine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jill Barklem spent five years on research before she started to write her stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge.

Her interest in natural history and traditional rural customs and crafts has spilled over into these chronicles of hedgerow life.

She lives with her husband and children near Epping Forest in England.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 6 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; childrens book edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689830599
• ISBN-13: 978-0689830594
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical novel for the very young April 28, 2004

By Erika Mitchell TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Poppy Eyebright and Dusty Dogwood are mice that live near a stream. One hot summer they begin to date, and then they announce their engagement. They marry and have a very pleasant wedding ceremony with all of their mousy relatives. The book is quite interesting with its reminders of the customs of times gone by, like engagements and trousseaus. Kids can also learn from it how people use to survive hot weather without air conditioners. The book has about 800 words.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Sweet Story and Pictures May 16, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I really enjoy Jill Barklem's work, especially this book. Thesummer story is one of the Brambley Hedge season books, and tells thestory of the summer courtship and marriage of two of the mice of Brambley Hill. It's hot outside in Brambley Hedge and the mice want to do nothing but sit and dip their tails in the stream, until suddenly, the hedge is buzzing trying to prepare for the upcoming wedding. The pictures are lovely, as usual, andthe sory simple and sweet. A great book for children and adults.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable Picture Book May 16, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I was given a copy of this book as a 2-year old, and I am so excited that it has finally come back into print. This book is very endearing. It tells the story of a young mouse, Wilfred, who is celebrating his birthday. The other mice of Brambley Hedge work together to plan a special surprise for Wilfred, and have almost as good a time planning it as Wilfred does discovering it. It is a good book for bedtime reading, or just any time. Everyone will enjoy this happy tale and it's adorable characters.

5.0 out of 5 stars Been looking for this one... May 12, 2013

By ~cb~

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have all the other cute little Brambly Hedge books, which I bought at different times at the library book sale, so they all have library binding, a big step above this bright shiny addition, but this will complete my set and I am happy. This book, being brand new, LOOKS much better than the others, and will probably last through a couple generations of my family, given that little hands are careful with little books in times to come. A long awaited addition to my library, this little book did not disappoint!

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful! December 23, 2009

By Svetlana V. Bordner

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this book and every book of Brambly Hedge. I love read it and admire the illustrations from time to time!

5.0 out of 5 stars very sweet October 27, 2009

By H. Hawkes

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

this is just too sweet! two mice getting married? the pictures are so lovely, so much going on in them and the story is so nice. it is a great book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! I love this book. December 27, 2007

By J. Casady

Format:Hardcover

The beautiful illustrations and the imagination of the author are wonderful! I love this book and I enjoy reading it to my little granddaughter. She loves the pictures of the little Brambly Hedge mice.

5.0 out of 5 stars Rube Goldberg for the furry animal set. January 5, 2004

By E. R. Bird HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

The Brambly Hedge books remain one of the sweetest picture book series ever to be concocted for the kiddie set. Of these, my favorite has always been "Summer Story". The plot is not particularly complex. In it, two little mice (Dusty Dogwood and Poppy Eyebright) have become engaged and they prepare for their summer wedding. Similar in many ways to Beatrix Potter's books, the Brambly Hedge series is published small, for small readers. Kids will enjoy the pleasant story while taking particular interest in some of Barklem's more impressive drawings. Her elaborate Rube Goldbergesque illustrations of the Dairy Stump and Mill are delightful. There is an attention to detail in these books that does not go unnoticed. For those kids who are, as of yet, too young to enjoy Brian Jacques "Redwall" books, the Brambly Hedge series may be right up their alley.