ALA Booklist (Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 1995)

Using collage, Crews translates the mental images of her own hot childhood summers into a sensorial feast for preschoolers. It's summer, and it's hot, the book begins, Dogs pant. Hydrants are open. Women carry umbrellas for the shade. Crews illustrates these symbols of summer using cutout photographic images mounted on related scenes. For example, for the above quote, clipped shots of an African American girl (the protagonist), a panting dog, and two women holding umbrellas in front of a store are superimposed on a street-scene photo of a spewing hydrant. Although the connections are predictable, the jumble of perspectives is refreshing. Finally, the day's sizzling images give way to the relief of grape popsicles and a cooling rainstorm. Especially relevant to urban libraries, this book provides many opportunities to discuss the senses and the unique experience of summer in the city. (Reviewed June 1 & 15, 1995)

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2006)

There's trouble in Motham City, and Ace Lacewing--the Sam Spade of insects--is on the case. This parody of hard-boiled detective stories features bug facts and puns ("we were pupae at the same school") but is so long-winded that readers probably won't learn anything or care who kidnapped Queenie Bee. The dark, digitally colored art is only slightly creepy.

Kirkus Reviews

The debut of a welcome new voice and vision, in photographs of a steamy summer cityscape and remembrances of the hottest of days. A little girl in beaded braids prances her way through this bright book; its full-color photos have a casual snapshot quality. The visual interest lies in the fresh and intriguing way these snapshots are collaged with other media into an urban narrative for very young children. Caramel-colored arms reach down from the top of a page to fry an egg on a tan sidewalk; sneakers ``splash'' through wavy cut-outs of water; streaky, painted raindrops underscore the actual wetness of the streets. The first-person narration is simple, written in a colloquial present-tense, and progresses with the pictures to the dramatic, cooling storm. (Picture book. 2+)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A steamy afternoon in the city and the resultant thundershower form the framework for Crews's promising debut. In an engagingly matter-of-fact narration, an African American girl voices colorful observations-Dogs pant. Hydrants are open'';I eat two grape Popsicles in a row.'' Her comments will be familiar to any child who has experienced the season's swelter. As visual accompaniment, arresting multi-perspective photographic collages depict the ebullient girl drawing chalk pictures on the pavement, playing on a swing; with this novel format Crews skillfully captures the childlike wonder at and appreciation of small delights. Spreads of the girl making shadows against the sidewalk and cavorting through the rain are particularly striking. Ages 2-up. (May)

School Library Journal

PreS--Clever, colorful photo-collage illustrations feature a cheerful African American girl in an appealing urban landscape. Her summer day activities include an unsuccessful effort to fry an egg on the sidewalk (it's not quite that hot), a brief visit to the local playground (it's definitely too hot to sit on the shiny metal swings), and the messy fun of eating two grape popsicles in a row. The first-person narrative is filled with short, declarative sentences that are convincingly childlike. Changes in the placement of the text as well as in the art keep the book interesting and fresh. Particularly effective double-page spreads include one in which ``...mother tells me to play inside games.'' The accompanying collage is cut into jigsaw-puzzle shapes, and another features splashing raindrops in various shades of blue. A simple story of a child's everyday adventures, told in an innovative, yet accessible style that will be enjoyed by young listeners no matter what the season.--Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh