​I always think of scarecrows in the fall, but why not build one in July, right? Better yet, how about celebrating the day by reading a wonderful picture book by a talented author and two talented illustrators: 

​Oh, this book! When I first heard it was going to be published, I could hardly wait. I knew pairing Beth Ferry’s text with The Fan Brothers’ art would be magic. It felt like I waited a loooong time to get my hands on a copy, but when I did…Oh, this book--magic, indeed! This is a story of longing, kindness, loyalty, sorrow, and joy. This is a story of friendship. Beth Ferry’s lyrical rhyme is lulling and lovely and The Fan Brothers’ signature art is delightful and dreamy. The two together are truly magical! Just what I expected and more. If you read this book, I’m sure you’ll finish with a sigh, give it a big hug, and then want to read it again and again, just like I did. 
 
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​I have a suggestion for what you can do while you’re staying out of the sun today. Read a picture book all about a very soggy situation:

A few years ago, I was viewing art at a children’s writing & illustrating conference, and I came across an image of a bear standing in the rain holding dripping wet ice cream cone. He looked miserable. And I fell in love. So, when I heard this image (and more) by Abi Cushman was going to be in a book, I squealed with delight. And now it’s here! This story is told from the point of view of a bear who is NOT happy about a rainy day (or anything, really). He spends a lot of time and energy wallowing in his misery and tries to take down all his woodland friends in the process. His friends do not have the same attitude and try to show Bear that he might be able to have some fun, even on a soaking wet day. Abi’s art is so expressive, you almost don’t need to read the text to appreciate the story (but you most certainly do need the art to tell the story—this is a true example of the marriage between art and text). This book has a miserable bear, a hula hooping moose, a cashmere sweater wearing rabbit, an umbrella toting badger, rain and more rain, and lot and lots of fun! I love SOAKED and I hope you will too!
 
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