Heat Wave by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Betsy Lewin.

A heat wave hit Lumberville and day after day the town’s residents swelter, finding different ways to try to stay cool.  Set in a small town in the early to mid 20th century, no one huddles by their air conditioner.  Instead readers get to see more creative solutions like cooking in the basement, taking long cool baths, and not sleeping indoors.  I enjoyed how many of the solutions build community closeness rather than in today where we all go into our homes and shut ourselves in. 

This is a great summery book to share with kindergarteners and early elementary age children.  The illustrations are friendly and funny with small touches like the policeman bathing with his hat still on.  The text is wonderful, filled with everyone’s exact name, it is like visiting a small town in person.

So pour some cold lemonade, sit out on your porch, and share this.  It will be just as nice in an air conditioned school or library where you can talk about the differences between the way we stay cool today and how they do in the book.  In schools without air conditioned classrooms, this just may inspire some creative ways for the class to feel cooler.