#398 of 1001 · September 2, 2021

Every year, I notice summer drawing to a close and wonder how the season has slipped away so quickly. In this time of reflection, I draw comfort and inspiration from @shauncytan’s Rules of Summer. A boy recounts a list of things he has learned over the course of a summer spent with his older brother. Each rule or maxim is accompanied by a visual interpretation of its potentially catastrophic consequences (“Never step on a snail”…lest it trigger a tornado, “Never give your keys to a stranger”…because they might enter your house and usurp your place in the family), perhaps reflecting just how confusing and pointless these declarations seem to the younger brother. The conflicts between the siblings grow stronger and deeper with each page, leading to a dark punishment, a timely rescue, and a sweet return to normalcy. Tan’s paintings, vivid externalizations of childhood infractions and disagreements, celebrate the raw and unpredictable power of imagination. #rules #summer #brother #brothers #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks