Four Friends in Summer

by Tomie dePaola, Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

Overview

What could be more fun than sunny days with your friends?
The weather is getting warm and Mister Frog, Mistress Pig, Missy Cat, and Master Dog are looking forward to pleasant days spent in the park, rowing, and tending to their gardens.
But their plans don't always turn out the way they think!
Join Tomie dePaola's beloved and classic characters as they learn that it doesn't matter how those carefree days are spent — as long as you're with your friends!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689856938
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	06/01/2003
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Tomie dePaola (1934–2020) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of more than 270 books for young readers, including the children’s classic Strega Nona. He was the recipient of the Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, and the 2011 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for “significant and lasting contribution to children’s literature.” A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of his life in New London, New Hampshire. Visit his work online at Tomie.com.

Tomie dePaola (1934–2020) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of more than 270 books for young readers, including the children’s classic Strega Nona. He was the recipient of the Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, and the 2011 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for “significant and lasting contribution to children’s literature.” A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of his life in New London, New Hampshire. Visit his work online at Tomie.com.

Hometown:

Connecticut and New Hampshire

Date of Birth:

September 15, 1935

Place of Birth:

Meriden, CT

Website:

http://www.tomie.com/main.html

Editorial Reviews

Tomie dePaola's Four Friends in Summer, originally published in 1977 (as chapters entitled "Spring" and "Summer" in Four Stories for Four Seasons), follows Master Dog, Missy Cat, Mistress Pig and Mister Frog as they go rowing on a lake and then decide to each plant a garden. Humorous illustrations framed against a white background display dePaola's signature style. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-Previously published as two chapters ("Spring" and "Summer") in Four Stories for Four Seasons (Aladdin, 1994) and repackaged here as a single story, this offering is pleasant, but slight and a bit disjointed. In gentle, easy-to-read language, dePaola introduces four friends-Master Dog, Missy Cat, Mistress Pig, and Mister Frog-all colorfully dressed in Victorian garb. While strolling through the park on a sunny day, they decide to take a rowboat out on the lake. One thing leads to another and all four tumble into the water. Missy Cat is the only one willing to try boating again, so the friends agree to do something they all enjoy, and each one plants a garden. At the end of the summer, they share their results by visiting all four gardens, and discover that each one is singularly appropriate to the personality of its owner. The pictures convey very little action as nearly all of them are group portraits of the animals with sweetly winning expressions on their faces, but the measured pace is appropriate for beginning readers. A mild friendship story that's warm but not exciting.-Kathie Meizner, Montgomery County Public Libraries, Chevy Chase, MD Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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