The blue velvet chair

A brown-skinned child describes their view of the ever-changing world throughout this steady work focused on the ephemeral. Every morning, the youth's first act is to climb into a blue velvet chair in their family's living room--a chair that also features in nearby photos hinting at the child's birth and subsequent growth. From the seat, the protagonist peers at the snow-laden world outside a window, which is so cold they can draw in the mist their breath leaves behind. As the child relays various ways of marking time (a clock, measured growth spurts on a wall), they consider the way the chair's window view reveals seasonal change ("new pink blossoms falling"), fluctuations in weather (how "the wind carries a plastic bag on the air"), and more. Before bedtime, they climb into the chair to view another kind of visible shift: nighttime's headlights, streetlamps, and a big round moon. Observational text by Cortez (The River Is My Ocean) and stylized art by Marin, using textural primary and secondary hues in his picture book debut, results in a gentle look at constant change narrated from a comfortingly anchored place. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Wendi Gu, GreenburgerKids. Illustrator's agent: Susan Penny, Bright Agency. (Aug.)

A favorite chair and a window help a youngster make sense of the passing of time. The mother and child at the center of this tale have many ways to keep track of time, from the ticking of the clock to the pencil marks on the wall noting the youngster's height. But best of all is the window that opens out onto a view of multicolored buildings and a garden. Each morning, the pajama-clad youngster climbs onto a blue velvet armchair and gazes out; it's the perfect vantage point for a small person to observe the shifting seasons. A flower drawn on the glass in a condensation of breath is a sign that winter's here. In warmer months, a cat cleans itself on a nearby rooftop, while people dance. Blossoms appear on the trees in spring; bright leaves fall in autumn. Cortez and Marin deftly marry potent visuals (the window framing the world outside) with tactile sensations such as the warmth of the window glass in summer. Marin's illustrations rely on a marvelous palette of deliciously rendered colors, evoking a comfortable tenderness between mother and child. Sky, clouds, blossoms, leaves, light, cozy living room, kitchen, and the soft-looking chair convey a sense of peace and safety; in this loving home, the passage of time is noted and celebrated. The characters present Black. A quiet meditation on the sweet delight of simply observing the changing world.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.