Children's Books and Family History: The Sights, Smells, and Sounds of Summer

Our senses have a way of unlocking memories we didn't even realize we still carried. The smell of fresh-cut grass, the sound of sprinklers on a hot afternoon, or the sight of a grandparent's garden can instantly transport us to summers gone by. These small sensory details often become the threads that connect us to our family stories and the people we love.

In When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling, readers are invited into a summer filled with family traditions, gardening, cooking, and time spent with a beloved grandmother. Through rich sensory details, the story reminds us how ordinary moments can become treasured memories that stay with us long after summer has ended.

My favorite part of summertime was hearing the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck. Every day, we would rush outside to meet Tony and beg him to give us an ice cream. When that didn't work, we would happily hand over 99p for a 99—a soft-serve vanilla ice cream in a cone topped with half a Flake bar. Sometimes, Tony would place a gumball at the bottom of the cone as a surprise for when we had finished. The first bite was always the best part: cold, creamy ice cream mixed with melting chocolate on a hot summer day. I loved dunking my Flake into the ice cream and using it like a spoon. With the summer sun beating down on us, the ice cream never seemed to last long enough. Before we knew it, the cone was gone, and we were forced to wait another twenty-four hours before seeing Tony and his ice cream truck again.

Whether it is the sound of children playing, the smell of freshly cut grass, or the first bite of a crisp, juicy watermelon, we each have things that let us know summer has arrived. For the young girl in the story, summer meant time with her Lola. It meant excitement, adventure, and making memories. It was a season to be treasured because, as we all know, summer passes far too quickly.

What sights, smells, or sounds remind you of summertime?

It might not seem like it, but this is family history. The sights, smells, and sounds we remember help tell the story of our lives. When we preserve these ordinary memories, we give future generations a glimpse into the summers we experienced, the people we loved, and the moments that shaped us.

ACTIVITY:

Make a list of all the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings that remind you of summer. Then ask a parent, grandparent, or another family member the same question. What memories do their answers bring back?

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