Review: Wild Summer, by Vasanti Unka

Vasanti Unka’s Wild Summer opens a doorway into the delightful whimsy of childhood, guiding readers on a journey through nature. Sweeping from lush forests to calm skies and deep oceans, Unka connects the nostalgic freedom of a youthful summer with the mindful calm of nature, offering a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and ground ourselves in the present.

Unka’s playful visual energy, familiar from favourites like The Boring Book and I Am the Universe, finds fresh expression in Wild Summer. She uses few words on each page, visually complementing the vibrant illustrations, curving and flowing across the page like a living extension of the art. The illustrations strike a beautiful balance: brilliantly bright and deeply calming. Together, they make a book that feels like one long, gentle inhale and exhale.

In Wild Summer, Unka has created what feels like a gentle meditation disguised as an adventure. It holds a lovely duality, appealing both to a child’s bright eagerness to explore and to their need for a gentle, quiet pause. It is a book to treasure and share, a testament to the magic of nature.