Summer's End [Hardcover]

Maribeth Boelts (Author), Ellen Kandoian Sweeney (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 1995 | Age Level: 5 and up

Jill has had a wonderful summer, a summer of baseball and swimming lessons and camping. But summer's almost over and Jill is about to start second grade. She's not quite sure she's ready. The last few weeks of summer are always a time of ambivalence, especially for young children, who look forwards to the beginning of school but don't want to give up those lovely, lively vacation days. Through graceful prose and gentle, cheerful illustrations, Maribeth Boelts and Ellen Kandoian perfectly capture every child's mix of summer's-end nostalgia, apprehension, and building excitement.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?Children's feelings of anticipation and apprehension as the first day of school approaches are well captured in this simple story. The narrator, Jill, looks back wistfully on her fun-filled summer and reluctantly prepares for second grade. She goes shopping for clothes and school supplies, gets a haircut, and cleans her room. In the process, she begins to recall good memories of her previous year at school, which help her look forward to going back and also allow her to encourage her little sister, who will be a new first grader. Soft pastel watercolors accompany the narrative. Even though there are many books on this subject, the gentle mix of nostalgia and excitement in this title strike just the right chord. A good choice.?Judy Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. Sad as summer vacation draws to an end, afraid as second grade looms near, Jill experiences that re-entry anxiety we all know. Soft line-and-wash illustrations capture the longing for summer games and ease, while the words express Jill's tension about school. She's even irritable shopping for supplies ("I grab any old glue, the littlest box of crayons" ), and when she tries to practice math, "my legs feel restless from too much sitting." But as the last lazy baseball game comes to an end, she remembers some good things she did last year in school, and her excitement grows. Pair this with Russo's I Don't Want to Go Back to School for August and September story hours. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1ST edition (March 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395705592
• ISBN-13: 978-0395705599
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,631,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maribeth Boelts lives in Iowa with her family and has been writing for children for almost 20 years. Her most recent titles, "Those Shoes" and "Before You Were Mine" have won a number of awards. Her picture book, "Happy Like Soccer" will be published May, 2012. A former teacher, Maribeth enjoys meeting and encouraging kids to read and write. "It is, in equal parts, an enthralling and confusing quest trying to crack the code on what makes a child pull a book off the shelf and continue turning the page. Figuring out what makes that same child laugh, feel understood or inspired is what keeps this career so interesting. I am grateful for every reader."