The Lovely Summer

I love this book. Actually, I love the original edition of this book even more, because that one is enveloped in the rosy haze of youth...but this one had its own merits. The original edition of the book was in black and white and included a hilarious episode where the garden's owner thinks he's shooting at the rabbits but is actually shooting at his own dog. (No worries. The dog is not hurt. The owner is obviously just as good a shot as he is a gardener.) When I bought this new color edition I was confused enough that I wrote to Mr. Simont to check the accuracy of my memory. (He was kind enough to write me back...a charming letter which I have saved.) The new book is lower on the violence scale but still amusing. And the rabbits are adorably endearing. Mr. Simont's watercolors, as always, are masterful and lovely. The story is a simple one...but the last page, with the clueless rabbits waving goodbye to the hapless gardening vacationers is priceless. I now proudly own both editions of the book...and I urge anyone who likes this book to look for an earlier copy as well.