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One golden autumn afternoon, a boy chases his very last conker of the season, and wanders straight into a hidden, whispering world of falling leaves.
James and the Indian Summer follows a young boy through a single, quiet fall adventure. Warned by the sunflowers not to wander far, James slips out the garden gate, wades through drifts of fallen leaves, and loses the path entirely, only to discover that the forest floor has come alive all around him.
Told in Milena Lukešová's spare, poetic language, the story turns everyday autumn treasures into imaginative little characters—acorn men, rose-hip girls, a watchful squirrel, and Mr. Cone the kindly pinecone. When a conker finally falls at James's feet and a silver cobweb appears on the garden gate, James knows: the Indian summer has arrived. Jan Kudláček's delicate, textured collage illustrations give every page the hushed, golden feel of a late-autumn afternoon.
Perfect for slow, cozy read-aloud moments, James and the Indian Summer is part of the Poetic Vintage Tales series, celebrating the changing seasons through classic, imaginative storytelling—a gentle, timeless read for children ages 4 and up who love nature, quiet wonder, and a story that rewards a second look.
- A Classic Czech Tale, Newly Reissued: First published in 1976 in the Czech Republic and beloved for generations, now available in a new English edition for a new generation of readers.
- Nature Comes Alive: Acorns, rose-hips, conkers, and pinecones become a cast of gentle imaginative characters, turning an ordinary walk into quiet magic.
- Poetic, Read-Aloud Language: Spare, rhythmic text captures the hush and wonder of a golden autumn afternoon, perfect for slow, cozy story time.
- Timeless Vintage Illustrations: Jan Kudláček's original textured leaf-and-collage artwork brings a warm, nostalgic beauty to every page.
- Part of the Poetic Vintage Tales Series: Joins a series celebrating the changing seasons and beauty of the natural world through the imaginative lens of childhood.
- Ideal Gift for Little Readers: A thoughtful present for birthdays, holidays, or just because, inspiring imagination and a love for reading.
For more than 75 years, Albatros Media has been crafting original and innovative children’s books that are both playful and educational, fostering curiosity and a love of learning in young minds. From novelty and board books to picture books and seasonal titles, Albatros Media creates high-quality books designed to delight, comfort, and inspire.
Milena Lukesova was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia and is the author of numerous children’s books. A graduate of Charles University in Prague, she worked for many years as a children’s book editor of the Czech publishing company, Albatros. Her work earned her a place on the IBBY Honour List in 1982.
Jan Kudlacek was born in Moravia, Czechoslovakia. He studied at the State School of Graphics in Prague and illustrated his first book in 1963. Since then, he has illustrated many children’s books and received various awards and honors for his outstanding work.