Written by Dorson Plourde and Illustrated by Isabella Fassler

Two brothers hatch a plan on a hot summer day that involves fries, ketchup, and a whole lot of waiting. The younger brother tries to fill the silence with questions, restless in the stillness, while the older brother insists they must stay quiet if they want the garbage gulls to arrive. Eventually, the gulls do come, whisking the boys away from the sweltering concrete of the parking lot.

Plourde’s poetic style makes this a delightful read-aloud, and kids will relate to both the sticky, endless feeling of a hot summer day and the longing to escape it. Fassler’s illustrations perfectly match the mood, encouraging readers to slow down and soak in that atmosphere of waiting. This is a perfect summer read and is ideal for sharing aloud in the classroom, either before the break begins or as kids reflect on it after returning to school.