Summer Feet

In this joyous picture book, readers follow an energetic group of children as they enjoy all that the summer season has to offer.

The text of Summer Feet not only celebrates summer; it celebrates playing with language. There is no set rhyme scheme to this poetry. Rhymes can be found, in addition to made-up words and plenty of onomatopoeia, but they happen organically. The rich vocabulary, both established and innovative, lends to the energetic (some might even say frenetic) tone of the book. The poetry holds together well and never feels out of place. The final line of every stanza is “summer feet”, presented in a creative but consistent font. This helps to lend a predictable structure to free-wheeling verse. This title could easily be included in a class segment on poetry. A lovely denouement gently brings the energy level back down.

It is obvious that careful attention has been paid to the layout and art. The font is easy to read and has sufficient contrast with the illustrations over which it is placed. Text placement echoes the carefree sentiment of free-wheeling summer days. It does this while also reflecting the meaning of the text. For example, the line “scooping down deep [in the dirt]” is curved in a subtle arc. Words are creatively placed on the page, providing the reader with subtle guidance as to the intended rhythm.

The illustrations feature a colourful palette and full-bleed spreads on every page. There is a good balance of detail and contrast here. The scenes are busy and dynamic, as befits the text, but do not overwhelm the audience with elements. A few of the scenes play with perspective. For example, when the children are playing in a field, it is as though the reader is viewing the event through a fishbowl lens. A younger sibling is warmly included in the majority of spreads, which is a nice touch.

The children depicted in the illustrations feature a range of skin tones (although a palish mid-brown is as dark as they go) and hair types. There is no diversity in ability or body builds.

Summer Feet is an exuberant celebration of outdoor summer fun.