HI, MISTER ROBIN!

The successful team of White Snow, Bright Snow and Sun Up have produced another lovely picture book, this time about the coming of spring in the country. With warm, luminous colors, predominantly green, orange and yellow, Roger Duvoisin has visualized the tremulous and dramatic progress of spring in the earth and sky --the shadowy grey of the first pussy willows in the snow, the white surprise of the first crocus, fresh green and yellows in a mist of rain and the triumphant burst of color under blue sky when the spring has finally come -- has all the freshness of childhood impressions. The text, following the coming of spring from the first cherry note of the robin -- ""it's here, it's here"" -- to the bird's wise ""I told you so"" as the little boy shouts ""spring is here!"" -- is atmospheric and lyrical. The little boy, his mother and grandfather are restless and anxious for spring, and wondering when it will ever come, but Mr. Robin knows and the signs the family see in the woods, fields and in the yards tell them Mr. Robin is right. Captures the mystery and enchantment of the spring spectacle.