What a cute story about animals becoming friends and overcoming fears as they seek shelter together in a storm. The artwork is phenomenal as well.

Some of my fondest memories, from both childhood and adulthood, are rooted in the presence of a swift and strong summer storm. Not only has this book, Hooray for Summer! by Kazuo Iwamura, captured the feelings in those memories, but the muted tones of the illustrations remind me of the books I read, and loved, as a child.

Three squirrel siblings are playing on a very hot, still summer day. Suddenly, they're receiving warnings from other animals to rush back home before the quickly approaching storm hits. Although they run as fast as they can, they don't make it, but they do find shelter in a small cave where two other animals are already hiding out. Soon, they have even more company, and they ride out the booms and lightning strikes huddled up together.

As with all good summer storms, it ends almost fast as it began. The sun returns, but with it comes a cooling breeze. Having bonded in the cave, the little group dub themselves the "Summer Storm Friends," and they play as though they've known each other forever.

Children truly are so good at making fast friends in situations like this, and it's wonderful the way this story shares that ability while also showing that nature can be beautiful and a little scary. All it takes is the right companions and a cozy place to stay, and new memories (and friendships) are formed.

I would like to thank Netgalley, NorthSouth Books and Kazuo Iwamura for making this ebook available. I have already ordered it for my library and can't wait to share it with our little patrons and their families.

Be sure to check out the other books featuring siblings Mick, Mack and Molly as they celebrate the joy of the seasons.

First of all, I want to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hooray for summer by Kazuo Iwamura is coming out on June 1eoo, 2023.

This book was so adorable!!! Three squirrels waiting for the storm to pass and then they meet some new friends. Summer storms are great! This series sounds sooo cute! I want to read about all of their adventures.

#HoorayforSummer #NetGalley

Meeting new friends is great even in a thunderstorm. Mick, Mack and Molly squirrel siblings run from the rain into a cave with two little mice already there then a bunny comes along. They all want to go home but the storm stops them, after the storm the sun returns and they all go play together in the field.
I enjoyed the illustrations in this book the animals could have come right off the page and into the room. I will recommend this book to my local library, friends and family with children.

Caught in a sudden summer downpour, our favorite squirrel siblings take shelter, and meet some other young rodents who are riding out the storm. A sweet and gentle tale of outdoor fun, and making new friends accompanied by lovely artwork by the author.

Thank you to the Publisher along with NetGalley for the eARC! A cute story about 3 squirrel siblings on a summer day when suddenly a thunderstorm starts. While hiding from the storm, they meet new friends and go on adventures together after the storm has passed.

I love these books by Kazuo Iwamura! Mick, Mac and Molly are lovely creatures who make friends with other animals on their adventures throughout the seasons. These are wonderful read aloud books. This Nana definitely recommends them. Thanks #NetGalley #NorthSouthBooks

Top-notch illustrations and a cute little story that has all the elements to readily engage little ones. A shared goal for some common young critters results in making room for others and finding new friends. Very sweet.

Perfect story for summertime story telling to the littles. Story uses squirrels as the main characters. Squirrels were playing outside on a sunny day that soon changes to rainy. They quickly find shelter just inside the cave. Just as rain turns into a thunderstorm They are soon followed by the field mice and a rabbit requesting permission to come in. The squirrel politely grants them entrance. The book demonstrates politeness and inclusivity among the mammal species. They bond by “surviving” the summer srain storm together. and become new fast friends. What a perfect summer read. Easy to see joy in this simple act of kindness. Always joy when watching squirrels. They are very polite when they do invite the other animals in. Shows inclusivity among species. Illustrations were well done and very cute. Yes I would definitely highly recommend this book. Whatever the season these morals and manners are always in season. I would like to thank the following for allowing me to review early and give my own honest review. #NetGalley, #KazuoIwamura #HorrayForSummer! Pub. Date: June 12, 2023. You can pick this up and start reading in a few short days after I submit this review. Get on out there and pick up your copy.

Children love to play outdoors in the summer. Three squirrel siblings are playing outdoors when a sudden thunderstorm interrupts their fun. There is no time to run home, so they find shelter in a cave.

The squirrels discover they are not alone in the cave. A mouse brother and sister are also hiding from the storm. Soon a rabbit joins them.

They are all very frightened of the thunder, lightning, and rain. Everyone trembles with fear.

At last, the storm is over and the sky grows brighter. All the animals in the cave rush outside to play with their new "Summer Storm Friends".

I can personally relate to this story because I have been caught outside in several sudden Texas thunderstorms. This can be a frightening experience for people of all ages.

Little Molly Mouse was so frightened that she called out for her mother. The author did a good job illustrating the emotion of fear but he also provided safe shelter and the reassurance of the other animals.

Children will probably remember times when they were frightened just like little Molly. This story could lead to discussions on what to do when you are afraid.

The story had a happy ending when the storm passed over and the new friends went back outside to play. The illustrations are very expressive and add value to the story.

This book was first published in Japan in 1986. This is a timeless story that children of many generations will read and enjoy.

I recently read and loved Hooray for Fall and now I got the opportunity to read Hooray for Summer and loved it just as much as Fall. The 3 little squirrels are so cute and fun so I love seeing their adventures. I love that the story just follows them on their day as they get some sort of conflict (the storm being today's) but not necessarily something to learn, just a book with good vibes and lovely pictures. I would read as many stories as I could about Mick, Mack, and Molly.

I did not like the color of the text, and font size. Parts of the text were hard to read due to the coloring in the book matching the color of the text. The illustrations are cute, and the story works well.

This is a sweet story about friendship. I felt the story was a bit rushed, but I liked it overall. The pictures were really cute. It would be more helpful if the text was more legible on the darker pages. Overall, I'd recommend.

My son and I enjoyed this one.

The story was cute and I liked the old school illustration style, especially because you don’t really see it much in books these days.

The only thing I think could be a little better it the font. On some pages the font wasn’t as easy to read.

I've become a fan of Kazuo Iwamura. This particular book will make you smile, worry a bit, and at the end go "Ahhh...how sweet". It's a lovely story of a moment in time.

Basically, it's a gentle illustration of friendship and trust between people, er, animals who aren't the same. While the squirrels dominate the tale, I couldn't help wanting to give the little mouse girl a hug at one point. She was scared by the raging storm and a tear escapes her eyes. She wants her "Mommy!", a feeling many humans share when they're scared or just need reassurance. The illustration of the storm is excellent, utilizing color and lines to represent the loud boom of thunder and sizzling lightning that follows. But, I get ahead of myself....

I loved how the animals, different species that they may be, work together. Not only does a bird warn them to seek shelter but there are three different types of animals represented. Besides the already mention squirrels and mice, a rabbit appears and politely asks if it may enter. A nice, subtle reminder to always be polite. The book begins with just the squirrels using nature's see-saw and ends with inclusiveness as the mice and rabbit have joined them.

Mick the squirrel dubs them all the Summer Storm Friends, a notion that going through something together can forge bonds, a hint that's as applicable to humans as it is adorable little creatures. The illustrations are sweet, using subtle colors and lines to depict the soft warmth of a summer day and the sudden fury of a thunderstorm. It's a fun read that I can visualize stimulating discussion between parents and children.

Thanks #NetGalley and #NorthSouthBooks for letting me spend a summer day with all it's warmth and fury with the squirrel children and their new friends. A great way to subtly depict acceptance and inclusion.

This book is so sweet, it reminds me of the classic books from my childhood. I liked the art style so much, made me feel nostalgic. I thought the plot was a little lacking, but it was a good tale overall.

This is the cutest little story about some squirrel siblings who get caught in a storm and make some friends while overcoming fear. The illustrations are beautiful and it’s a great length, my toddler loved it.