THE RED POPPY
by Irmgard Lucht & illustrated by Irmgard Lucht & translated by Frank Jacoby-Nelson
German nature artist Lucht (In This Night..., 1993) has produced a lyrical, subtly informative, stunningly beautiful recreation of the life cycle of a red field poppy. Readers learn not just about the seasonal cycle of this single small plant and its exquisite flowers but of the interdependence of all the plants, insects, and animals on the edge of a farmer's field of rye. Restrained, poetic yet always factual, the text is matched and even exceeded by the extraordinarily detailed and hyper-realistic full color paintings. The cover illustration of the wrinkled, unfolding flower is oversized and arresting—jewel-toned in deep emerald green and vibrant ruby red. Consistently aware of children's sensibilities and interests, this is picture book nonfiction at its finest. (end notes) (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8)