This story came from a conglomeration of memories of family life – both my family of origin and my own family now. I’ve always noticed the seasons, even as a child, and valued that in Melbourne, where I live, we really do have four distinct seasons. I love each of them in different ways.

The seasons have also always been a comforting, reassuring aspect of life. When so much is changing and uncertain, the return of each season - the buds in springtime, the wattle at the end of winter, the different sporting codes starting up again, the changing colour of the beautiful autumn leaves, even the position of the sun at dawn at dusk – reassures us all that there are some things in life that we can rely on, that are steady and predictable.

I hope that Sing me the Summer is a book that many people can relate to in its celebration of family life and the natural world.

Many people have asked me how Alison became involved in the project. Originally there was an illustrator from overseas on board, a fine artist who had never done a picture book, but she pulled out quite early on and then Alison offered to do the pictures. I would never have had the presumption or gall to ask Alison to illustrate a text I wrote, but I’m so glad she offered! The pictures represent many of Alison’s family memories as well.