Last Summer

Book excerpt: Three-year-old Caleb was afraid of the ocean. The waves were so big and fierce, and he was so little. He would play in the sand where the water could not reach him, but he refused to go in-until one magical afternoon last summer. With Dad at his side, gingerly coaxing and encouraging him to "look at the whole ocean, not just the waves," Caleb left his fears behind and stepped into the ocean for the first time.In Last Summer, author and photographer Raquel Jaramillo beautifully blends delicate sepia-tone photos with minimal text from a child's perspective to create a gentle, loving keepsake for any dad. These intimate photographs document the little boy's apprehensions, and his father's loving support, as he ultimately triumphs over fear. Readers will sense that they were there, celebrating with Caleb, sharing the moment when he first splashed into the waves as they crashed onto shore. The story is even more compelling because it's true. On that momentous summer day, Jaramillo captured these moments as her young son found the courage, with just the right words from Dad, to step into the surf. Serving as a metaphor for life, Last Summer is a warm, simple tale that will resonate with both children and adults alike as they remember their own childhood fears, and the sense of joy and independence that emerged once those fears were conquered.