For most adults, time has the bad habit of flying far too fast, with the seasons and events celebrated throughout the year passing quickly. But for most young children, time moves slowly, and what comes next is sometimes a mystery. But as island author Tom Brenner has shown in his previous children’s books, “And Then Comes Halloween” and “And Then Comes Christmas,” there are clues for his readers to uncover, indicating what is next.
His latest book in the series, “And Then Comes Summer,” was recently released in time for summer vacation. Brenner will read from his new book at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Vashon Bookshop, and at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, at the Vashon Library.
“It is mostly about what happens in the season,” Brenner said in a recent interview. “There are clues as to what to do. The book starts out in springtime. It is warm enough that lawns are mowed and school ends. The boys set up a lemonade stand, and July 4th is a two-page spread in the middle of the book. The kids play in the streets, go to the lake to swim, meet their friends and have a good time. In the evening, there is a campfire with s’mores. On the last page, they are in the tent sleeping.”
He said it is up to the reader to determine what will happen next.
Each book in the series features two children in one family, though they are not the same from book to book. Each family also has an animal. The two brothers in “And Then Comes Summer” are often accompanied by the family dog.
“In this book, all the kids are laughing and smiling,” Brenner said, punctuating the remark with a chuckle.
The exuberance of the children was shown by illustrator Jamie Kim, a recent graduate of the University of Maryland. Brenner explained that typically the editor and art department at Candlewick, the book’s publishing house, get together to talk about which illustrator to hire.
“Eight are picked that would work,” Brenner said. “The editor then selects three of the eight and sends those to me, and I rank them. For the Halloween book, I picked someone in 2007 who wasn’t free until 2011, so we went with the second pick.”
This time, Brenner was sent samples by two illustrators and was told his number one pick would be used.
“So I did my research,” Brenner said. “One was an established illustrator; the other was still a student at the University of Maryland. I thought, ‘Here’s a chance to get this college kid into a better publisher of picture books.’ It was her first offer.”
Brenner, who is a watercolor painter, said he also chose Kim because she “didn’t seem afraid to use color, and I liked that.”
Brenner’s next book, “And Then Comes School,” is slated for release in 2020.
