MEET JULY

July is a boy with big plans for American Independence Day in Martin’s picture book.

What if each month in the year were a person? July is a young red-haired boy with pale skin who loves to wear an American-flag-themed swimsuit and go to the pool every day. His best friends, June (a blond girl with pale skin) and August (a Black boy), often join him to sip lemonade, lick ice pops, and munch on watermelon slices. July is excited to build a float for his local parade with June and August (“He LOVES to celebrate America’s birthday on the fourth of the month”). The parade is off to a great start until July hears rumbling and worries that it’s yet another of the summer thunderstorms that he’s come to expect almost every afternoon. July soon discovers that the sounds are not portentous, but rather celebratory—and much closer to home than he realizes. In this seventh installment of Martin’s Calendar Kids series, the author cleverly ties together weather, recreation, and celebrations to provide a vivid picture of the seventh month of the year. July’s narrative is educational without being didactic and relaxed without feeling directionless. Martin’s illustrative style is rounded and cute, bestowing each Calendar Kid with a distinctly themed look that makes them look almost supernatural while remaining relatable.

A great way to introduce young readers to the fiery summer month.