Watermelon Day

Watermelon Day is the tale of a young girl and the summer in which she waits patiently for the seed she plants to grow into a watermelon. Images of long summers and endless hot days are depicted in a simplistic style which will appeal to young children. The anticipation of that first cool, sweet bite of watermelon nearly makes your mouth water as you reach the end of the book. Illustrations by Dale Gottlieb are paired well with this author's lovely childhood picture book.

Watermelon Day is the tale of a young girl and the summer in which she waits patiently for the seed she plants to grow into a watermelon. Images of long summers and endless hot days are depicted in a simplistic style which will appeal to young children. The anticipation of that first cool, sweet bite of watermelon nearly makes your mouth water as you reach the end of the book. Illustrations by Dale Gottlieb are paired well with this author's lovely childhood picture book. ~DeeDee Fox, Author of The Ruby Red Slippers

My 3 year daughter and I love this book. It is so beautifully written, accompanied by great illustration. As a mother, I love the weaved in lesson of patients . Jesse, the young girl, must wait out the entire summer for her special watermelon. A joy to read and share with children alike.

Ah, the memories. When I was in the first grade in Orlando, Florida I took a watermelon seed and planted it in the little patch of earth between the front of the house and the sidewalk from the driveway. But then my father came back from Saudi Arabia on the last day of school (which is another story) and we moved to New Jersey and I never knew what happened to the watermelon seed that I planted, although just about every time I have watermelon I think back to that planted seed.So I can identify with Jesse, who is impatiently waiting for the watermelon growing in the corner of the patch where the fence posts meet. That is because at the end of the summer is the family's annual "Watermelon Day." That is a big day for Jesse's family when cousins show up, her mom makes peach ice cream, Uncle Ike brings his banjo, and lots of softball gets played. Then, at the end of the day to top everything off, there is ice-cold watermelon to be enjoyed from the biggest one in the patch. Kathi Appelt's "Watermelon Day," illustrated by Dale Gottlieb, follows Jesse's long summer of waiting for that watermelon to grow. Repeatedly Jesse asks "How much longer, Pappy?" and he patiently explains how long the process is, although Jesse is pretty sure that both she and the watermelon might burst from the sheer waiting of it all. Even on the final day there is much waiting to be endured before finally getting to eat a melon that is as sweet as the summer rain and a nighttime song. "Watermelon Day" is a nice little story that shows the virtue of waiting patiently for something. Okay, maybe not exactly waiting patiently, but at least waiting without being totally annoying. Obviously this is a great book for those growing their first watermelon, but the idea that some things take time to happen is a lesson worth learning even if it involves something other than watermelons. This is another good effort from Appelt, who is a poet as well as a writer of children's books.

I had the opportunity to listen to Kathi Appelt read this story aloud, and it was wonderful. By hearing the author read it the way she meant for it to be heard, it made this story magical and special. I immediately felt compelled to buy my own copy to share with others. It is a wonderful way of capturing a child's impatience, and captures the wonder of a summer day.