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The author's whimsical yet simple children's book uses rhyme and pictures to take young readers on an adventure with Abby and the animals she encounters throughout the summer. The story begins at Abby's home where readers meet a variety of interesting animals: her mixed-breed dog, Ada; her hedgehog, Cactus Butt, whom she plays with for hours in her bedroom; her younger sister Sammy's two cats; and Abby's guinea pig, Piglet, who loves to eat lettuce and carrots. Out in the yard, she meets a box turtle and a hummingbird, her grandma's favorite. The story then follows Abby on vacation, where she visits the zoo and sees a rhinoceros, a wallaby, and a koala. While on vacation, she even has the chance to swim with a dolphin. Back home, Abby introduces her horse (Eagle) and its foal, the honey bees she keeps, and a red-tailed hawk in its nest in her backyard. This book encounters even more animals as Abby continues to navigate the world around her.
Petry, the book's author and illustrator, paints a detailed and visionary story with each new animal that Abby encounters throughout her summer. Readers will feel as if they are meeting the animals themselves and getting to know them. Petry surreptitiously includes specific information about select animals, adding a new and unobtrusive aspect to the learning. For example, "She knew that sheep are sheared in the spring and perhaps again in the fall. And that the coat of a sheep is wool which is soft and warm after all." This type of descriptive education about the animals helps young children learn as they read along, inspiring them to take a look at the animals in their own backyards and discover what makes them unique.
Although some additional editing would enhance the effectiveness of the narrative, the rhyming nature of the book makes it a fun tale for early readers as well as for little ones who are having the story read to them by an adult. However, younger readers may need an adult's assistance to navigate the text, as some of it is more complex in nature. This book may be best suited to children ages four through eight, who can thoroughly grasp the intricate concepts.
The author's vibrant original artwork makes each animal come alive on the pages and lends a visual to each new encounter. The attention to detail of the beautifully created illustrations shows Petry's artistic ability and adds to the quality of the book. His vision is clear and animates all of the animals Abby comes in contact with during her summer. Readers will undoubtedly delight in the colors and style. As its title suggests, this is an early learning children's book that seeks to teach kids about everyday animals. As it is told through the eyes of a young child, youngsters should be able to relate well to the protagonist. As indicated on the dedication page, the character of Abby was inspired by the author's own daughter, Abigail. This gives the book a touch of realism and nostalgia that are effectively translated through its words.