Letting the Summer Go

Alice Teasdale (author) and Júlia Both (illustrator)

Inspired by the stories of recovery after the Black Summer bushfires Letting the Summer Go follows the journey of a mother and her child rediscovering their garden after the devastation of wildfire. With colour unfurling from the earth, sunlight, a disgruntled hen, and the conscious act of letting a terrible summer go, this illustrated children’s story is about resilience in the face of large-scale natural disaster.

Letting the Summer Go is aimed at parents of children between 3 and 8, who are interested in speaking with their children about disaster and loss (in particular, but not exclusively, through wildfires) as well as the impact of major tragic events. There is a strong garden and nature narrative throughout the text and illustrations.