Summertime Sleepers

May 17, 2021
This engaging nonfiction picture book instructs young readers on the opposite of wintry hibernation: summery estivation, a more recently discovered seasonal sleep cycle engaged in by certain animal and insect species, including convergent ladybugs, the African lungfish, and the pixie frog. Stewart’s prose balances a conversational tone with easily absorbed facts about estivating beings across several continents (“At the first hint of summer, a yellowbellied marmot heads underground for some serious shut-eye”), with some pages including additional information in a smaller font. Inset diagrams with species details plus near-photorealistic illustrations by Brannen make the subject matter more accessible for visual learners. Budding biologists will especially appreciate this intriguing primer on a lesser-known process. Back matter includes more about the animals depicted, suggested further reading, author’s and illustrator’s notes, and selected resources. Ages 6–9.