Lazy Days of Summer

by Judy Young, Kathy O'Malley (Illustrator)

From earliest times, the concept of "play" has been part of the human experience. And while some pastimes have gone in and out of favor over the years, some never change or lack for enthusiasts. Using poetry and prose, Judy Young relives many of the familiar games of childhood and invites young readers to join along as she plays Kick the Can, Monkey in the Middle, and Double Dutch jump rope. "The rope starts to turn and I jump with my feet As I sing out a song with the same rhythmic beat, Turn around, touch the ground, first jump slowly, then fast; How many more jumps do you think I will last?" Colorful artwork reinforces the underlying message of the importance of physical play in today's techno-driven world. In Lazy Days of Summer even "older" children will recall the welcome tang of lemonade after a rugged game of tag.Lazy Days of Summer is Judy Young's third book with Sleeping Bear Press. She also wrote the playful and popular Ris for A Poetry Alphabet, which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Judy teaches poetry writing workshops for children and educators, and lives near Springfield, Missouri. Kathy O'Malley graduated from Chicago's Columbia College and has illustrated more than 30 children's books. Her artwork can also be found on greeting cards, limited-edition collectibles, and other decorative products. Kathy lives in Glenview, Illinois.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Judy Young is the author of 30 children's fiction, nonfiction and poetry books. Her books range for all ages of childrens, from board books, picture books as well as middle grade novels. Her books include the Digger and Daisy early reader series and The Wild World of Buck Bray middle grade novel series.
Judy's books have received numerous awards and accolades, including the Mom's Choice Gold Award for "R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet" and LaVar Burton's reading of "A Pet for Miss Wright" for Reading Rainbow Video.
When not writing, Judy is usually outdoors—hiking, camping, fishing, and snowshoeing in the mountains of Idaho where she resides with her husband and three dogs.
Judy offers exciting virtual author visits for elementary and middle schools. For more info, visit her website.

Reviews

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick little tidbits about summer games to play outside. It's cute.

[Janet Squires]

Just for fun, here is a collection of simple rhymes highlighting a variety of summer activities. Kick-the-can, hopscotch, marbles, and relay races are just a few of the playtime options. Following each rhyme, a "Do You Know" section offers some background and/or history. Did you know that Roman soldiers played their own version of hopscotch?

With the school year coming to an end, this book might be just the ticket for those sunny summer days.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the little facts about different games.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book on the many childhood games that children play during the summer. I liked all the information the author included, and the art was awesome as well.