Review by Booklist Review
Pfeffer and Bleck have previously teamed up to create two books about seasonal periods, The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice (2003), and We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season (2006). This companion covers the spring equinox and how people mark its passage in the northern hemisphere. The opening spreads show people preparing for spring and, with a clear diagram of the Earth's position relative to the sun, describe how the long nights of winter shorten, / and with more hours of sunlight, / the weather warms. Then Pfeffer discusses specific traditions from countries that include China, Iran, India, and Russia, as well as religious celebrations such as Passover and, with references to its roots in the pagan Eostre, Easter. The book ends by defining the four seasons, noting the reversals in the southern hemisphere, and with five multicultural activities. The free-verse text is clear and simple, and colorful illustrations blanket every page with celebrants clad in traditional, festive clothing. A short bibliography and list of Web sites can help interested children find out more.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Pfeffer combines basic science with cultural traditions and celebrations to describe this seasonal event. A simple explanation and equally clear graphics serve to contrast the light of summer solstice with the darkness of winter solstice and also to demonstrate the fact that both the vernal and autumnal equinoxes occur when day and night are of equal length. Bleck's cheerful cartoon illustrations are well matched to the text and sport suitably bright hues. Springtime festivities within Chinese, Persian, Indian, and Mayan cultures are explored, with reference to ancient mythology and architectural structures. The significance of special holiday foods is also discussed, including pancakes for the Russian celebration of Maslenitsa, fresh berries for the Cree Native Americans, the symbolic seder plate for Jews at Passover, and eggs for Easter. The back of the book offers a craft activity or recipe for each holiday mentioned. Useful for seasonal units, the book offers a list of print resources and Web sites but could be considered an additional purchase for libraries that have Ellen Jackson's The Spring Equinox (Millbrook, 2002).-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Spring solstice is the impetus for rites and ceremonies all over the world, and here Pfeffer describes both ancient and contemporary celebrations. The folk-art-style illustrations show cheery look-alike people in idealized settings. An illustration of Earth's position and a later verbal description for each change of season are useful. Crafts and recipes are appended. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Continuing her tributes to the seasons, Pfeffer explores spring in her latest science/history title. Beginning with the signs and activities that herald spring's arrival, there is a short explanation of the spring equinox. Following this are succinct and interesting explanations of how various peoples throughout the world commemorate this day and the historical origins of their celebrations. The holidays include the Chinese New Year, No Ruz in Iran, Holi in India, Maslenitsa in Russia, the Jewish Passover, the Christian Easter as well as explanations of what the Maya in Mexico and the Cree in America did to mark the spring equinox. Several pages of spring crafts and recipes follow the text, along with a list of print and online resources. Bleck's bright colors sing of spring, and she masterfully brings other cultures to life, capturing the essential parts of each celebration. Unfortunately, in the one illustration depicting the earth in its path around the sun, the seasons are labeled incorrectly: The North Pole is pointing away from the sun during the "summer solstice." Still, with a corrected picture replacing this one page, this could be a valuable seasonal resource, as are the two previous (and correct) titles about winter and fall. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
