TOUCH THE SKY SUMMER

Every childhood ought to contain at least one summer moment like this—a pure idyll. Luke, Peter, and their parents go to spend a week at their grandparents' lakeside cabin. The boys show off newfound swimming skills, go fishing, have a sleep-out (which their father joins, never mind that his feet stick out of the makeshift tent), learn to skip stones, and on the one rainy day, light kerosene lanterns, pop corn in the fireplace, and play quiet games. Van Leeuwen (see review, above) ensures that the story remains this side of sentimental; it is evocative rather than manipulative. The interest Luke takes in everything, from the natural world to his family members, comes across as sincere and immediate, even when portrayed in scenes that can be a bit cloying. Perfectly captured by Andreasen are Luke's receptivity and vulnerability, his emotions thrown wide open, his faith in the magic of a place unwavering. (Picture book. 4-8)