Rules of Summer

By Shaun Tan, Lothian Children’s Books, 2000.

‘Never be late for a parade. Never forget the password. Never ruin a perfect plan.’

Um…not sure Shaun Tan…

Your illustrations are beautiful as always, but on the first read, I didn’t understand the story. So, I thought I’d run this past a child and get a young person’s view of it. My 12-year-old niece wasn’t too sure about it either.

Rules of Summer is not a book I’d personally choose in a hurry. I read somewhere that this is a story of two boys and their adventures, but I didn’t get that from the story on the first read at all. So, I read it again.

On my second read of the book I saw the two boys in each picture, but the story? I think the boys have adventures and then they have a fight of some sort, before making up.

Rules of Summer offers the reader a long list of rules; things you must never do.

Could appeal to children, possibly boys more than girls.