KITTEN'S WINTER

Kitten’s fourth seasonal sojourn (Kitten's Autumn, 2010, etc.) finds her struggling through a snowstorm to reach the warmth and safety of home, all the while observing how the forest dwellers deal with the weather.

“Rabbit hops, / Mouse zips. / Otter catches, / Fish flips.” Kitten also sees beaver, turtle, bear, chipmunk and raccoon sleeping, woodpecker tapping for insects and a squirrel searching for food. But the animals in the gentle rhyming verses are not the only ones in the artwork—children will enjoy spying their favorites, as well as searching for the kitten, who takes a behind or under-the-trees route home, and sometimes leaves only footprints for seekers to find. As in the previous three books, Fernandes’ artwork takes this simple tale to a whole new level. Created with clay, acrylics and mixed-media collage, the forest takes on a depth and texture that echo reality, while the animals appear ready to spring off the pages, the birds to take flight. Readers are treated to cutaway views of the animals’ cozy burrows, their inhabitants sleeping through the cold. Foresty browns and wintry blues and whites contrast nicely with the warmer colors of Kitten’s home.

A pleasing finale to the seasonal quartet.