Age Group: 3 - 6 Years

Description: This warm, celebratory picture book chronicles the joyful summer when a big, loving family drives from Virginia in a ramshackle rainbow station wagon to visit their relatives over the mountains. The anticipation builds through the long drive, and when the car pulls in, hugs and laughter overflow from the kitchen to the front yard. The visit is crowded, noisy, and heartwarming—relatives sleep packed together, eat in shifts, and fill the house with chores, games, and hugs. As weeks pass, everyone shares in gardening, music, and helping each other. When it’s finally time to say goodbye, there are bittersweet hugs, but the story closes with hope: knowing the family will reunite next summer. Rylant’s gentle text, paired with Stephen Gammell’s expressive art, captures the chaos and comfort of family bonds, highlighting togetherness across generations and distances.