What a sizzling combo! Eileen Spinelli and Betsy Lewin have teamed up to create the perfect read for a stiffling summer day. Set before air conditioning was commonplace, everyone in Lumberville is seeking relief from the oppressive heat: ‘Butchy Bezwick and Charley Pappas squirted each other with garden hoses and lay on the cool linoleum listening to the radio.’

Whether you are experiencing hot, humid weather or wishing for one last summertime blast, Heat Wave will remind you of summer days and simpler times. Good fun for youngsters aged four and up.

Living in Arizona, we get a kick out of reading this book. It reminds us how blessed we are to have air conditioning! The colors are perfectly evocative of the heat, and the ending is very fun. ( )