A joyful debut picture book ode to the music, games, food, and fun a young girl encounters at her family’s annual summer cookout at Grandma’s house.

CiCi just can’t wait to get to her Grandma’s house for the family’s first big cookout of the summer. There’s plenty to look forward to: the food, the games, the music, and seeing all her aunties and uncles. But most of all, Cici is excited to catch up with her big cousin Chase.

There’s just one problem: she can’t seem to find him anywhere! CiCi searches all over the party, asking everyone she meets if they’ve seen Chase, until she finally thinks to look for him in the most unexpected of places . . .

From the cousins playing Double Dutch, to the uncles throwing horseshoes, to the savory smells of Grandma’s cooking, this is a love letter to family, summer, and the magic that happens when we all get together.

Nadia Fisher is the illustrator ofDaddy Dressed Meby Michael and Ava Gardner andCreate Your Bright Ideasby Jess Ekstrom, among others.At the Cookoutis her author/illustrator debut. Visit her online at AriaDelSole.com and follow her @AriaDelSole

• Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
• Publish Date: April 7, 2026
• Pages: 40
• Language: English
• Type: Hardcover
• EAN/UPC: 9780593860335
• Dimensions: 10.0 X 10.0 X 0.0 inches | 0.93 pounds
• BISAC Categories: Kids