With quick, sketchy strokes of pen and brush, Voake creates a massive tree with birds and squirrels in the branches and two children setting up a picnic below as a setting for her lightly reworked version of the cumulative folksong most commonly called “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” To a refrain that goes “The green leaves grew around, around, around...” she focuses attention on a particular branch, a certain nest, three blue eggs and at last a nestful of warbling (see title) hatchlings. Parts of the simple musical arrangement printed on the rear endpapers are covered by the flap, but the tune will be easy enough to pick up; share this simple, joyous celebration of Spring, of leaves and of new life in general with younger children, and they’ll be singing along in no time. (Picture book. 3-7)
