A backyard comes alive as outdoor adventures of the human and animal inhabitants unfold side by side, then slowly wind down at nightfall. A personable family of squirrels peeks out to see new treats being poured into the bird feeder and tied to their tree. Scrambling for their share of the bounty, they become aware that they are not the only ones in the yard that day. The human inhabitants celebrate the sunny day with a picnic. Deciding to continue the day outdoors, they begin to set up a tent and string some lanterns. As the squirrels look on, the human mother kisses her sons goodnight and offers them a bowl of popcorn while the lucky squirrels return to their nest, paws full of apple cores and scavenged popcorn, picnic leavings, and bird seed. After counting up to “Nine clovers for a crown. Ten whirligigs spinning round,” the day counts down to a close. “Three kisses soft and sweet. Two sleepyheads off to sleep. Under one big sky.” Rich oil paintings illustrate the beautiful things suitable for counting in this quiet (and sometimes funny) look at nature. (Picture book. 2-5)
