Julian's Glorious Summer (Stepping Stone Books)

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annalovesbooks, September 4, 2008 (view all comments by annalovesbooks)
ISBN 0394891171 - Any book that wins the Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year gets my attention and Julian's Glorious Summer took that prize in 1988. The lesson of Julian's story is one that all parents can appreciate.

Julian's summer takes a nosedive from the beginning, when his best friend Gloria rides up on her bicycle. She thinks it's great - he thinks it's scary. Not that he's about to say that! Instead, when Gloria invites him over to her house, Julian claims that his father will be forcing him to work day and night for the entire summer. His lie snowballs and, perhaps worse, his father seems to think this is a good idea and puts Julian to work immediately. One day, however, the work runs out - it's payday and Julian is in for yet another surprise this summer.

The back cover says Reading Level 2.8. This book is a nice way for a kid to learn how lying can backfire, but at the same time Julian ends up with quite a payoff for his lies, so the lesson can be a little vague and might merit further discussion. Julian's fear of riding a bike is not uncommon and might help your child face his or her own fear - of bikes or anything else. The illustrations, by Dora Leder, are black and white pencil sketches and the lack of the vibrant colors usually found in books for very young readers is a positive here, because they don't distract from the text but enhance it. Race is most certainly not an issue in this story, but it might be worth knowing for some that the characters are black (it's never said, just in the images). This might make the book even more appealing to black families who have, in my reading experience so far, been under-represented in childrens' books. Julian's summer is glorious, the book is all right and the messages in it are worthwhile.

- AnnaLovesBooks

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780394891170

Author:

Leder, Dora

Author:

Leder, Dora

Author:

Cameron, R. Ed.

Author:

Cameron

Publisher:

Random House Books for Young Readers

Subject:

Fiction

Subject:

Children's fiction

Subject:

Boys

Subject:

Readers - Beginner

Subject:

Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General

Subject:

Ethnic - African American

Subject:

Afro-americans

Subject:

Fear

Subject:

Social Situations - New Experience

Subject:

Readers - Chapter Books

Subject:

Bicycles and bicycling

Subject:

People & Places - United States - African-American

Subject:

Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings

Subject:

Social Issues - New Experience

Subject:

African Americans

Subject:

Ethnic - General

Subject:

Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction-Emotions and Feelings

Subject:

Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction

Edition Description:

Paperback

Series:

A Stepping Stone Book(TM)

Series Volume:

0000

Publication Date:

19870931

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Grade Level:

from K up to 4

Language:

English

Illustrations:

YES

Pages:

64

Dimensions:

7.58x5.26x.17 in. .11 lbs.

Age Level:

04-08