Rules of Summer
By Shaun Tan
The Story
A younger boy follows a strange, ever-growing list of rules set by his older brother over one long summer, until breaking one plunges him into real danger only his brother can pull him back from.
Why It's Special
For siblings who live by their own invented laws and logic, this book puts that whole strange, tender power balance on the page.
- Big idea: Love between siblings is often unspoken and a little irrational, but it holds even when the rules break down.
- Vibes: dreamlike, moody, quietly intense, with a warm and redemptive close
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories told mostly through pictures
- are working through the ups and downs of a sibling relationship
- respond well to surreal, dreamlike imagery
- like to talk about what's really happening beneath the surface of a picture
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What happens when the younger brother breaks one of the rules?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the younger brother felt when the darkness came rushing in?
- Real-life connection: Do you and your brother, sister, or best friend have any rules just between the two of you?
- Imagination: What rule would you make up if you were in charge of the summer?
- Art & illustration: Which picture in this book felt the most mysterious to you, and why?
