A spare text describes the onset of winter as four animals of the forest make preparations. One line describes the weather conditions, “Icy winds blowing through,” and then: “Squirrel stashing, / bat chewing, / beaver building, / bear, big bear, digging deep.” The four finally scrunch up to wait out the winter. The flurry of activity stops, while: “Moon, big moon, glowing bright. All sleeping, sleeping tight.” With very few words per page, Partridge’s (This Land Was Made for You and Me, p. 107, etc.) text creates a gentle rhythm. Paley’s (One More River, p. 423, etc.) collage technique of cut paper embellished with watercolor, crayon, pastel, pencil, and oil paint provides the hook. The compositions are simple and bold, with the textured browns and blacks of the animals and trees contrasting with the bright palette employed for the background. Illustrations that have animals as the focal point are especially engaging. An explanation of the hibernation habits of the animals follows the text. Lovely. (Picture book. 2-5)
