Bubbles in Summer by Wanda Carter Roush is a cheerful children’s book that follows Bubble Girl through the sights, sounds, and small pleasures of summertime. The book moves from one familiar summer moment to the next, with bubbles floating through backyards, gardens, beaches, boardwalks, fireworks displays, and warm evenings outside. The rhyming text gives the story an easy read-aloud rhythm, and the bubbles create a playful thread that connects every scene. I especially liked how the book notices ordinary things children might recognize from their own summers, such as sprinklers, strawberries, picnics, sandcastles, fireflies, ice cream, and playing outdoors. That gives the story a cozy, recognizable feeling while still keeping each page visually busy and fun.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and packed with details, so younger readers have plenty to look at even after the words have been read. The bubbles themselves are especially eye-catching, with swirling rainbow colors that make them seem almost magical as they drift from scene to scene. The illustrators also fill the pages with children of different backgrounds and abilities enjoying summer together. One of the strongest visual moments comes near the end, when Bubble Girl, who uses a wheelchair, is shown spending time with new friends on the beach. The pictures make her part of the action naturally and warmly. There are also little animals, beach toys, flowers, food, kites, shells, and other details tucked into the scenes, which makes the picture book feel like something children can explore.

There’s a gentle message about friendship running underneath all the summer fun. Near the end, Bubble Girl connects with a new friend who uses sign language, and the story emphasizes that laughter, kindness, expressions, and shared play can bring people together. The back pages extend that idea by introducing American Sign Language, showing a few signs and an ASL alphabet that children can try for themselves. The book also adds interactive activities, including an “I Spy” search for summer words beginning with S and a hidden puppy that readers can look for throughout the pages. Those extras fit the book well because they encourage children to slow down, study the illustrations, and participate in what they’re seeing.

Bubbles in Summer feels like a celebration of childhood summer days, with an emphasis on play, friendship, curiosity, and inclusion. It would work especially well as a read-aloud for preschool and early elementary children because the rhyme keeps the language lively while the illustrations give them plenty to discuss. The book’s strongest quality is the way it turns simple seasonal experiences into something worth noticing. A bubble floating past a garden, a beach ball bouncing along the boardwalk, or friends laughing together becomes part of a larger picture of what summer feels like to a child. By the final pages, the story leaves readers with the sense that friendship can begin in quiet, simple ways, sometimes with little more than a smile, a shared game, and the willingness to join in.

Pages: 30 | ASIN: B0GXKGH8T7