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One of my favorite Betsy books and my son really enjoyed it too, asking for chapter after chapter. Betsy's summer is full of the delights of childhood and summertime and, while taking place in the 1940s/50s, I think most modern children would still delight in them if they had the opportunity. There's the fun of trying to find a substitute sound for the ice cream truck bell when it goes out of order (and getting to ride along on the truck, too); the neighborhood kids trying to fry an egg on the sidewalk on a very hot day; the excitement of watching the neighbor's pool be built (and the anticipation of that first day of swimming!); and, of course, the wonderful fun in the summer playhouse Betsy's father builds for her and her little sister in the backyard and which affords Betsy's friends so much fun over the summer, including the watermelon party! Though the episodes are mostly just great fun, a few lessons are tucked in here and there (without being obnoxiously didactic). Betsy has plenty of friends who are boys and they get almost as much page time as Betsy, so if you have young readers who don't want a "girl book" just try to get them to give it a chance. I'm also really pleased that this book continues to include Lillybelle, the African-American daughter of Betsy's neighbor's housekeeper, and she is counted just as much a friend as anyone and is invited to the swimming party, too.
