Every year when planning my end of the year read aloud sessions, I know it’s time to pull And Then Comes Summer off the shelf and use my And Then Comes Summer Activities Unit. This read-aloud by Tom Brenner, with joyful illustrations by Jaime Kim, is pure sunshine on paper. It captures the feeling of summer: bike parades and fireflies, the mood, the sounds, the anticipation.
And Then Comes Summer Activities are perfect for enhacing your students reading literature skills: this book is packed with rich sensory language, gentle repetition, and elementary friendly vocabulary, which makes it perfect for writing inspiration, descriptive vocabulary, and all sorts of fun literacy work.
And Then Comes Summer Book Summary:
And Then Comes Summer walks us through the beginning of summer when the air smells like grass and sunscreen, and the lake or parade or firework-filled sky is just around the corner. Tom Brenner’s text is lyrical and structured around the phrase “and then,” building a transition from spring to summer fun. From bikes and sprinklers to sleeping bags and starry skies, every page celebrates the season of play.
Why I Love Using This Book in the Classroom:
- It encourages descriptive writing and helps students build stronger sensory vocabulary.
- It connects deeply to student experiences — everyone has a summer memory to share!
- The structure is perfect for mentor texts and sentence starters.
- It leads right into crafts, drawing, and planning, perfect for end-of-year or summer packets.
- It’s one of those rare books that feels calm and exciting at the same time — just like the best summer days.
And Then Comes Summer Activities – To Enhance Writing Skills
Finish the Pattern: When…, Then… Writing Prompts
The entire book is built on a predictable, poetic structure: “When… (something summery happens), then… (you know it’s summer!)” This is a great writing model for even your most reluctant writers.
Give students a writing template with 3-5 lines starting with “When…” and ask them to finish the lines based on their own summer routines. Examples:
- When the sun shines bright …
- When it is too hot to play outside …
And Then Comes Summer Activities – To Boost Descriptive Language
Summer Simile Starters
Use the book’s lyrical tone to inspire a mini-lesson on similes. Start with examples from the story (e.g., “days stretch like a slow yawn”). Then build a word bank as a class: what does summer feel like, taste like, sound like? In my TPT resource with And Then Comes Summer book activities, I offer an ice-cream craft template to practice similes and unleas creativity!
And Then Comes Summer Activities – To Support Imaginative Planning
Flip-Flop Travel Dreams
Have your students design giant flip-flops (real or on paper) and inside each one, write about the places they want to go this summer and the things they want to do. Encourage them to describe it with sensory details:
- What would you see?
- What would it smell like?
- What would you do there?
In my TPT resource you will find a low-prep printable that turns into a visual writing display that works perfectly as a bulleting board to display before summer break!
And Then Comes Summer Activities – For Observation & Vocabulary
In my And Them Comes Summer Activities unit I have created a visual scavenger hunt using summer items, as well as a wordseach to help activiate summer vocabulary. I find these activities to be truly helpful in keeping the students engaged – no easy task when the year comes to an end! Use these or similar fun, but educational summer activities and worksheets for your summer read-aloud sessions as a center or calm activity during the last week of school.
Final Thoughts
And Then Comes Summer is more than a read-aloud — it’s an invitation. An invitation to slow down, savor the season, and let your students’ creativity run free. Whether you’re wrapping up the school year or kicking off summer school, this book helps you pause, play, and plan all at once.
You know it’s a keeper when your students beg to read it again… and then again. And when they start saying, “And then comes summer…” during dismissal? You know it sunk in.
Visit my TPT store to find the full resource including:
- ABC Chart – Students generate and record vibrant summer-related words to match each letter of the alphabet.
- Flip-Flop Craft – Encourage thoughtful writing as students list places they’d love to explore and fun activities they’re dreaming of this summer.
- Summer Adjective Activity – Strengthen vocabulary by brainstorming adjectives that capture the feeling of summer days.
- Story Summary Challenge – Support comprehension as students summarize the book in their own words, practicing sequencing and recall.
- Cause & Effect Graphic Organizers – Help learners map out story events and understand their connections and consequences.
- Coloring Page – Provide a creative, text-connected activity perfect for early finishers or quiet time.
- Summer Word Search – Reinforce spelling and story vocabulary through an engaging puzzle format.
- I Spy Game – Sharpen observation and counting skills with a themed summer seek-and-find activity.
- Sensory Ice Cream Craft – Guide students to use sensory language to describe what summer tastes, smells, sounds, and feels like.
- Summer Reflection Prompt – Inspire students to share what they’re most eager to experience during the summer months.
These And Then Comes Summer activities blend literacy skill-building with creative expression, making them ideal for whole-class lessons, centers, or seasonal units. Each activity is thoughtfully designed to meet literacy objectives while keeping students motivated and engaged.
Make your end-of-year reading lessons fun, reflective, and aligned with standards – and let your students welcome summer with creativity and joy! 🌞🍦📚
