Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In succinct, evocative poems, Yolen describes the seasons as they unfold in a forest habitat. In one winter scene, children play in the distance while foxes frolic in the foreground, and an owl and an ermine stare out at readers ("High-balling, low-balling,/ everyone's snowballing,/ and it keeps going/ on snowing"). Yolen emphasizes the ethereal quality of each season, noting its end as another season begins: "Fingers and toes freeze/ and cold makes my nose sneeze./ Turn the heat on,/ then winter is gone." Ashlock lavishes attention on details of the animals and their environment in her handsome naturalistic illustrations, which include cornucopia-like clusters of animals, fruits, and vegetables. Playful notes, such as a scene of children playing in fallen leaves while wearing animal-themed Halloween costumes, counterbalance the book's more serene reflections on the changing year. Ages 6-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The prolific Yolen has written a paean to the eternal cycle of the seasons, beginning with winter and ending as fall fades into that season once again. The poetry evokes some interesting images: "Water, waves,/shimmering days./Toes wiggle,/fish wriggle/in a strange haze." And again: "Pumpkins and gourds/and the clamor/ of herds./Honking geese Vs.,/And the bare-bones of trees." However, it is Ashlock's pencil and watercolor illustrations that are the standout here. The artist focuses her attention largely on the animal world with sometimes startlingly realistic depictions of snowy owls, foxes, otters, weasels, snowshoe hares, deer, and many more. The animals peek out from hollow tree trunks and through blades of grass, and it is often necessary to spend some enjoyable time studying the pages to make sure you haven't missed that hedgehog or opossum hanging by its tail. Often the animals (particularly that magnificent snowy owl) appear to be making direct eye contact with readers. People are seen in the background, engaging in appropriate seasonal activities, as if unaware that their forest friends are so close by. VERDICT While seasonal books abound, this one is distinctive enough to be a first purchase for most collections.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ © Copyright 2015. 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
Lilting rhymes paired with evocative full-spread paintings depict cyclical seasonal changes in the natural world. Yolen's sonorous wordplay begs to be read aloud: in spring, for instance, there are "frogs, trees, hum-bumble bees, blossoms and possums and gossamer breeze." Ashlock reflects the hues of each season, with animals, birds, insects, plants, and trees assembled in vivid images of winter, spring, summer, and fall. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A rhyming picture book about the cycle of nature's seasons. The prolific Yolen uses spare, poetic words to weave a story of the seasonal changes in the natural world. As the lilting narrative unspools in a playful, delicate way, the creation of mood is paramount: "Snow, snow, / shiver and blow. / Icicle popsicles / drip, drop, and dropsicles." Illustrator Ashlock matches Yolen in poetic atmosphere with her watercolor-and-pencil double-page spreads, which present a lush and decorative natural world. Don't expect scientific accuracy with thesea flattened perspective often means that fawns are the size of baby robins, and animals and plants are piled higgledy-piggledy together in stylized vignettes. But a scientific presentation of the natural world is not the point. Instead, readers are invited to enter into a communion with natureencouraged visually by the small humans present in many of the illustrations that are otherwise dominated by flora and fauna. The meter sometimes stumbles"Turn the heat on, / then winter is gone"but the overall sentiment succeeds. The well-designed book has notably thick, richly printed pages and exceptionally pleasing proportions. While many nature books for children are anthropomorphic or didactic, this one celebrates nature and its ability to inspire awe and appreciation. This lovely book introduces young readers to the poetry of words, art, and natureit's a welcome addition. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
