Keeping Your Cool! Summer by Wenxuan Cao

IN SUMMER, THE GRASSLANDS ARE PARCHED.

THE ANIMALS SEEK SHELTER FROM THE SUN.

Their only respite seems to be a distant tree, but as all--Elephant, Rhino, Bear, Leopard, Jackal, Lynx, and Mouse--race toward the tree, they stir up choking dust.

When they finally reach the tree, they all fight to get under it. Being the largest, Elephant quickly stakes out his place right under the tree.

"NO FAIR!" ALL THE ANIMALS SHOUT. "WE GOT HERE FIRST!"

But as the others gather to glare at Elephant from some distance, the truth becomes clear. The tree has only a few tiny leaves, and Elephant, under his shadeless tree, is just as hot as they are. The animal begin to laugh at Elephant and then at themselves. And then they notice a couple of figures making their way across the dusty grassland--a man and a small boy. But...

THE FATHER'S SHADOW COMPLETELY COVERS THE SMALL BOY.

Suddenly the animals are ashamed. Soon the Lynx invites the little mouse to sit in his shade. Jackal moves next to the two and shades them both. Sheepishly, the rest of the animals in turn--Leopard, Bear, Rhino, and finally... Elephant--take their place, providing shade for the rest of them.

And prophetically, a small cloud drifts by and stays to shade them all, even Elephant, in Cao Wenxuan's Summer (Imprint, 2019), lyrically written little parable of sharing scarce resources. Artist Yu Rong adds paintings, both evocatively warm and lovely, that extend the narration beautifully. Writes Publisher's Weekly, "An exquisitely calibrated fable, with a lyrically plainspoken voice, a vivid sense of atmosphere, and deftly choreographed moments of high drama and humor."