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I libri delle Stagioni #3
El Libro del Verano
Russian Book. Publisher: Samokat. Pages: 14. Year: 2017. Cover: Board Book.
16 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Rotraut Susanne Berner
264 books55 followersRotraut Susanne Berner (born 1948) is a German graphic designer and illustrator.
She illustrated The Number Devil by Hans Magnus Enzensberger.
She is well known for a series of popular children's book, called “Wimmel” books, which have attained a worldwide circulation of close to 500,000 copies in fifteen countries.
Working as a freelance illustrator, she has focused on books for children and young adults, illustrating more than 80 such books and designing over 800 book covers.
She illustrated The Number Devil by Hans Magnus Enzensberger.
She is well known for a series of popular children's book, called “Wimmel” books, which have attained a worldwide circulation of close to 500,000 copies in fifteen countries.
Working as a freelance illustrator, she has focused on books for children and young adults, illustrating more than 80 such books and designing over 800 book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 2, 2024
The best children’s book ever. Without text but with unfailing and limitless possibilities for having fun with your children. Warmly recommended!
May 15, 2020
I actually review all four books - Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall together, so will post the same review for the individual books.
All Around Bustletown - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall - are a series of delightful wordless giant-sized board books that follow the adventures of adults, children, animals, birds, and even objects as they go about their day.
The illustrations are charming, bright and colorful, elaborately detailed, and with the definite feeling of an old-fashioned German storybook, not surprising since they were originally published in Germany. In fact, in German, these would be called Wimmelbücher, wordless picture books of everyday scenes that are chockablock with details and each scene is connected to the others by the setting. In this case, that would be Bustletown. The detailed images that are just teeming with activity are why these books have been compared to Martin Handford's Where's Waldo books.
What I found to be really nice about these books is that there are recurring characters from book to book and each of the two page spreads give readers a cross-section view inside buildings that is reminiscent of the back of a dollhouse, and a panoramic view of what happening in the outdoor images. Each book follows the same format - starting from home (as you can see from the illustrations below) and then on to the city with stops at a farm and garage, then a small fish store and a large train station, turn the page and you arrive at a school under construction across the street from a cultural center, keep going and the center of town offers all kinds of stores and activities, this is followed by a visit to a department store for some shopping and finally a visit to a beautiful busy park. Of course, everything has a different look and feel to it thanks to the changing seasons. And yes, there is a kind of sequencing to the books. In the Winter book, the school is nothing more that a foundation. In the Spring and Summer books, readers can follow the progress of the school's construction, until the Fall when it finally opens.
And though the four All Around Bustletown books have a Where's Waldo feel to them, the books don't have a specific task attached to them, like finding a hidden object/Waldo in all the hustle and bustle. Instead, these books promote not only observational strategies, but also introduce young readers to story telling skills. And my kids had no trouble following the recurring characters. Cornelia Rémi, an expert on the Wimmelbuch, considers them to be a form of playing, an idea I particularly like. So, since we had all four books, we placed them on the floor in seasonal order, beginning with winter.
Conveniently, the back of each book highlights and names the main characters, so that each of my kids could choose a character to follow through each book and then each season, making up stories based on that was happening and what the character was doing along the way. What appeared to be chaos on each page began to become more ordered as they made up stories and gave purpose to each character. That was really a lot of lively fun and since there are more citizens in Bustletown than I have young readers, everyone got more than one character to story about.
All Around Bustletown - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall has turned me into a big fan these wonderful interactive books. Each one has eight panoramic pages filled with activity and people, and reflecting the holidays of the seasons. And based on my experience, they are guaranteed to keep kids busy for quite a while. And at a time when many of us can't go out and about the way we used to, maybe a visit to Bustletown is just the ticket.
These books are recommended for readers age 4+
These books were gratefully received from Media Masters Publicity
All Around Bustletown - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall - are a series of delightful wordless giant-sized board books that follow the adventures of adults, children, animals, birds, and even objects as they go about their day.
The illustrations are charming, bright and colorful, elaborately detailed, and with the definite feeling of an old-fashioned German storybook, not surprising since they were originally published in Germany. In fact, in German, these would be called Wimmelbücher, wordless picture books of everyday scenes that are chockablock with details and each scene is connected to the others by the setting. In this case, that would be Bustletown. The detailed images that are just teeming with activity are why these books have been compared to Martin Handford's Where's Waldo books.
What I found to be really nice about these books is that there are recurring characters from book to book and each of the two page spreads give readers a cross-section view inside buildings that is reminiscent of the back of a dollhouse, and a panoramic view of what happening in the outdoor images. Each book follows the same format - starting from home (as you can see from the illustrations below) and then on to the city with stops at a farm and garage, then a small fish store and a large train station, turn the page and you arrive at a school under construction across the street from a cultural center, keep going and the center of town offers all kinds of stores and activities, this is followed by a visit to a department store for some shopping and finally a visit to a beautiful busy park. Of course, everything has a different look and feel to it thanks to the changing seasons. And yes, there is a kind of sequencing to the books. In the Winter book, the school is nothing more that a foundation. In the Spring and Summer books, readers can follow the progress of the school's construction, until the Fall when it finally opens.
And though the four All Around Bustletown books have a Where's Waldo feel to them, the books don't have a specific task attached to them, like finding a hidden object/Waldo in all the hustle and bustle. Instead, these books promote not only observational strategies, but also introduce young readers to story telling skills. And my kids had no trouble following the recurring characters. Cornelia Rémi, an expert on the Wimmelbuch, considers them to be a form of playing, an idea I particularly like. So, since we had all four books, we placed them on the floor in seasonal order, beginning with winter.
Conveniently, the back of each book highlights and names the main characters, so that each of my kids could choose a character to follow through each book and then each season, making up stories based on that was happening and what the character was doing along the way. What appeared to be chaos on each page began to become more ordered as they made up stories and gave purpose to each character. That was really a lot of lively fun and since there are more citizens in Bustletown than I have young readers, everyone got more than one character to story about.
All Around Bustletown - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall has turned me into a big fan these wonderful interactive books. Each one has eight panoramic pages filled with activity and people, and reflecting the holidays of the seasons. And based on my experience, they are guaranteed to keep kids busy for quite a while. And at a time when many of us can't go out and about the way we used to, maybe a visit to Bustletown is just the ticket.
These books are recommended for readers age 4+
These books were gratefully received from Media Masters Publicity
June 10, 2024
Each book in the series features seasonal activities, chores, and celebrations in a cheerful wimmelbilderbuch (my fancy word of the day). Each page features a different part of the town, unfolding wordless stories as various characters go about their work, play, and errands. An all-time favorite with its rich but gentle details, open-endedness for discussion, and vocabulary expansion with every re-reading.
Tags: daily life, seasons, community, seek and find
Tags: daily life, seasons, community, seek and find
June 29, 2020
We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It's Summertime in Bustletown!
Everyone is ready for summer in Bustletown! The townsfolk are busy bustling about, going to and fro, having junk sales and meeting friends, attending birthdays at the park, and more!
This is one in a fantastic seasonal board book quartet and is both a look-and-find and a create-a-story with tons of details to keep you busy exploring and conversing about what is going on for hours.
There's so much to do with these books!
They are quite unique with wordless pages filled with people and animals and locations. The very back of the book introduces some of the people and animals within the book and gives you a hint at what they are doing or where they are going so that you can follow them throughout the book. You are free to follow and narrate for any of the characters included and there's plenty of people, places, and little things to notice!
My five year old loves coming back to these books to explore them again and again. Each time, she seems to notice more and more.
I personally love that we can have time-consuming fun with these books but also real-world discussions. We get to explore the inner workings of a town, the comings and goings of a diverse community, and even how a town can change and expand.
There's no end to the ways you can 'read' books like this!
This review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature.
More in this series:
Winter
Spring
Fall
It's Summertime in Bustletown!
Everyone is ready for summer in Bustletown! The townsfolk are busy bustling about, going to and fro, having junk sales and meeting friends, attending birthdays at the park, and more!
This is one in a fantastic seasonal board book quartet and is both a look-and-find and a create-a-story with tons of details to keep you busy exploring and conversing about what is going on for hours.
There's so much to do with these books!
They are quite unique with wordless pages filled with people and animals and locations. The very back of the book introduces some of the people and animals within the book and gives you a hint at what they are doing or where they are going so that you can follow them throughout the book. You are free to follow and narrate for any of the characters included and there's plenty of people, places, and little things to notice!
My five year old loves coming back to these books to explore them again and again. Each time, she seems to notice more and more.
I personally love that we can have time-consuming fun with these books but also real-world discussions. We get to explore the inner workings of a town, the comings and goings of a diverse community, and even how a town can change and expand.
There's no end to the ways you can 'read' books like this!
This review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature.
More in this series:
Winter
Spring
Fall
April 13, 2020
Summer is just brimming with fun times around Bustletown. It is warm and folks are out and about enjoying the sunshine. There is free time. There is community to enjoy.
On the back cover of each season in the Bustletown series, individual characters are drawn and it will be fun to watch for them in each of the books. Some are repeated and some are not. That is the case in any town and especially in Bustletown.
Beneath the characters on the back cover there is also a question, thought, or statement parents care read to their child to guide them in looking for actions and objects on the pages. Other than this page of text, the books are essentially "wordless."
The parrot gets lose and you can find him in different spots on each page. Can you find items or birds in each of the series' books? Can you find it?
The possibilities of observation and story telling are virtually endless with the individuals, activities, buildings, seasons, and life in general.
I found it quite interesting to open all four books to the same scenes and compare the activities for each season. Also, it was interesting to see the progression of a project taking place - such as repair of the church.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
On the back cover of each season in the Bustletown series, individual characters are drawn and it will be fun to watch for them in each of the books. Some are repeated and some are not. That is the case in any town and especially in Bustletown.
Beneath the characters on the back cover there is also a question, thought, or statement parents care read to their child to guide them in looking for actions and objects on the pages. Other than this page of text, the books are essentially "wordless."
The parrot gets lose and you can find him in different spots on each page. Can you find items or birds in each of the series' books? Can you find it?
The possibilities of observation and story telling are virtually endless with the individuals, activities, buildings, seasons, and life in general.
I found it quite interesting to open all four books to the same scenes and compare the activities for each season. Also, it was interesting to see the progression of a project taking place - such as repair of the church.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
March 27, 2020
Bustletown is a busy place, especially during the summer. People are out in the park on picnics. Joggers, ice cream vendors, swimmers and travelers can be found throughout the pages. Construction workers are building, the Cultural Center has plenty of visitors and so does the library.
Parents, teachers and caregivers will enjoy sharing this picture filled busy book. Each page shows the residents of Bustletown making their way through the day. Kids can examine each page and find so many recognizable objects and activities. There are plenty of ways for kids to be kept engaged while learning colors, objects, activities, animals, foods and more.
Parents, teachers and caregivers will enjoy sharing this picture filled busy book. Each page shows the residents of Bustletown making their way through the day. Kids can examine each page and find so many recognizable objects and activities. There are plenty of ways for kids to be kept engaged while learning colors, objects, activities, animals, foods and more.
September 6, 2017
Obě s dcerou milujeme knížky od této autorky, opravdu jsem zatím nenašla konkurenci. Všech 5 dílů (Jaro, Léto, Podzim, Zima, Noc) je bezkonkurenčních v tzv. kategorii "hledacích" knížek. Báječný mi také přijde formát, větší A4 a že se jedná o pevné desky, takže děti jen tak lehce nezničí. Vtipné, nápadité, hledací, prostě skvělé. Pro děti od cca 1,5 let do 99 let klidně, pokaždé najdete něco jiného, co vás zaujme. Příběhy postav na sebe navazují, ale můžete si vytvářet i příběhy své vlastní, je to prostě pecka :-)
April 8, 2021
This large-sized wordless board book is bursting with things to look at! There are cross-sections of buildings, showing what is going on inside, there are people wandering around outside, etc. It reminds me a bit of Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town, but with people instead of animals. This would be a fun one for kids to talk about what each person is doing, and to make up stories about the people.
There is an "All Around Bustletown" for each season.
There is an "All Around Bustletown" for each season.
March 6, 2020
Everywhere in Bustletown people are getting things done, going to a museum, doing their shopping, finding lost objects, eating icecream that melts all over the floor, having a picnic, and tending to the animals. Everywhere you look there is something interesting happening and a story line to follow!
I love the colorful and detailed illustrations! Each page is beautifully drawn with fun little details to draw the reader in. I'm 37 years old, and I was fascinated with each beautiful scene!
It's so fun to search for people in the hustle and bustle of the scenery and follow them from page to page as their little story unfolds. A mysterious fox is running through the city, rummaging through garbage cans. A lady finds two cats have stowed away in the trunk of her car. Billy trips on a banana peel and his friends help him to patch up a cut.
The simple stories of each person are full of humor and surprises as they find themselves in hilarious situations. Everything is so ordinary, but strangely fascinating at the same time. They get their hair cut, play with their children, meet a friend for coffee, or pick fresh strawberries. A summer storm blows up and it begins to rain, but the clouds are soon replaced with a rainbow, and everyone comes out again to play in the park. It's charming and fun!
This book is perfect for little readers to search for individual people and items in the pages! My nieces both adore these books, and they are 8 months old and 2 years old!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Masters Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I love the colorful and detailed illustrations! Each page is beautifully drawn with fun little details to draw the reader in. I'm 37 years old, and I was fascinated with each beautiful scene!
It's so fun to search for people in the hustle and bustle of the scenery and follow them from page to page as their little story unfolds. A mysterious fox is running through the city, rummaging through garbage cans. A lady finds two cats have stowed away in the trunk of her car. Billy trips on a banana peel and his friends help him to patch up a cut.
The simple stories of each person are full of humor and surprises as they find themselves in hilarious situations. Everything is so ordinary, but strangely fascinating at the same time. They get their hair cut, play with their children, meet a friend for coffee, or pick fresh strawberries. A summer storm blows up and it begins to rain, but the clouds are soon replaced with a rainbow, and everyone comes out again to play in the park. It's charming and fun!
This book is perfect for little readers to search for individual people and items in the pages! My nieces both adore these books, and they are 8 months old and 2 years old!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Masters Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
August 23, 2023
Ulubiona seria dla dzieci - ilość bohaterów pomaga nam bez przerwy tworzyć nowe historie, sięgamy po nią zawsze przed snem, zmieniamy tylko pory roku odpowiednio do aury za oknem. Synek pokochał mając 1,5 roku i była to pierwsza "prawdziwa" książka, którą potrafił się zajmować naprawdę długo.
July 10, 2017
I can't recommend this book enough! I can't believe the time I spend with my toddler (1 year and 7 months old) today "reading" this! Lovely illustrations and entertaining even for adults!
December 29, 2018
Un livre excellent où mon fils de 15 mois passe du temps à tout regarder seul. De nombreux détails, des personnages récurrents, et les autres livres de la même collection sont super également !
July 8, 2019
Everytime we open this book, we find something new.
July 26, 2019
Fun book for different ages. Meine Tochter schaut es sich gerne mit 17 Monaten an, aber ich bin sicher, das wird in kommenden Monaten immer noch viel Spaß bereiten.
May 22, 2021
These are classics - every kid should have them, especially kids interested in visiting Germany or picking up the language!
December 29, 2021
Wir haben alle Jahreszeiten und die Bücher sind ganz großartig. Sie werden jeden Tag neu entdeckt.
May 29, 2026
Love these books! I wish I could live in Bustletown!
June 5, 2020
Even though summer hasn’t officially arrived here yet, it certainly feels like summer. School is out and the temps have already been in the 90s. The night sounds are either amplified by the birds and frogs or by thunder and lightning. Evenings on the porch with a book or lounging with a game of cards and a bowl of ice cream are perfect ways to enjoy the summer nights.
In the quaint little community of Bustletown, Summer has arrived. If you have read the previous books in the series, WINTER and SPRING, then you are familiar with the buildings, farms, and characters as they go through their day in Bustletown. Kids will find characters mowing the grass, planting their fields, children swinging, and a woman selling ice cream and balloons. In fact, kids will love finding the balloons floating on every page.
There is so much activity on each page to keep kids entertained and making up stories for hours. This book also offers opportunities to explain farming, gardening, and various other summer work that is done in both homes and businesses.
Many of the characters on the pages are planning to attend a birthday party that appears at the end of the book. But a summer storm is looming and maybe the party won’t be able to happen. But, on the last page, everyone arrives at the pond with gifts and food and a rainbow that spreads across the horizon.
I absolutely love this series and find them to be such a great way for prereaders to start to understand the world around them and be able to make up their own stories, learning sentences, and the importance of having an imagination.
In the quaint little community of Bustletown, Summer has arrived. If you have read the previous books in the series, WINTER and SPRING, then you are familiar with the buildings, farms, and characters as they go through their day in Bustletown. Kids will find characters mowing the grass, planting their fields, children swinging, and a woman selling ice cream and balloons. In fact, kids will love finding the balloons floating on every page.
There is so much activity on each page to keep kids entertained and making up stories for hours. This book also offers opportunities to explain farming, gardening, and various other summer work that is done in both homes and businesses.
Many of the characters on the pages are planning to attend a birthday party that appears at the end of the book. But a summer storm is looming and maybe the party won’t be able to happen. But, on the last page, everyone arrives at the pond with gifts and food and a rainbow that spreads across the horizon.
I absolutely love this series and find them to be such a great way for prereaders to start to understand the world around them and be able to make up their own stories, learning sentences, and the importance of having an imagination.
May 7, 2020
Even when we're not stuck inside due to a pandemic, my big girls (ages 2, 4, and 6) spend a lot of time looking at books. This set of four oversized board books, which wordlessly depict the busy lives of the residents of Bustletown during each season of the year, have been a huge hit with all three, and have been especially good for keeping them entertained for long periods of time while we're under a stay-at-home order. My six-year-old enjoys looking at the back cover to learn the characters' names and then following certain ones through the book to find out where they go and what they do. My four-year-old likes looking for the animals who recur on each page, especially Niko the parrot. And my two-year-old loves that she can "read" these books all on her own without having to ask a grown-up or sibling to read aloud to her. We think your kids would like them too!
This review also appears on Instagram.
This review also appears on Instagram.
February 19, 2021
So fun and adorable!
December 12, 2016
Moje dzieci uwielbiają całą serię na Czereśniowej. Przy okazji my rodzice też się nie nudzimy, bo wszystkie postacie występują w całej serii wraz z rozwojem akcji. Polecam dla dzieci już od pierwszego roku.
December 19, 2015
Recenze - viz první titul série Zima.
June 20, 2018
Everyone in the house is in love with this book! Looking forward to reading all the others in the series.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews