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Summer Is for Cousins

by Rajani LaRocca

CCBC Review:

An extended South Asian American family enjoys a delicious summer together. Every year, all 15 of them gather at “a house that’s not any of ours, near the ocean and a lake.” Now that baby Leela has arrived, narrator Ravi is no longer the youngest of the family. But he still looks up to his oldest cousin, Dhruv. Feeling shy, Ravi is pleased when Dhruv kindly includes him, inviting Ravi to paddleboard and encouraging him as Ravi takes a turn on the rope swing. (He was too scared to swing last summer.) Ravi wonders if Dhruv remembers that they have something in common: their favorite ice cream flavor, which unfortunately is never available at the ice cream stand. The cousins’ days are filled with summer fun: They swim and swing, hike and bike, and play mini golf. When it rains, they read or nap or piece together a jigsaw puzzle. The days end with drive-in movies and, of course, ice cream. When it’s the cousins’ turn to make dinner, Ravi’s contribution is … a blue plastic ball? The kids roll it around, confused, until Ravi opens it to reveal a treat: ice cream! Dhruv takes the first spoonful. “‘Banana,’ he says. He puts an arm around [Ravi’s] shoulders. ‘Our favorite!’” Colorful, saturated digital illustrations show cousins of all ages playing together in a sweet and joyful story that celebrates personal growth and the enduring love of extended family. Highly Commended, 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Award ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Illustrated by Abhi Alwar

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range: PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7) Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format: Picture book
Subjects: Asian Americans Cousins Families Seasons South Asian People
Diversity subject: Asian

Publisher: Abrams
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781419757334
CCBC Location: Picture Book, LaRocca

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