by Terry Pierce ; illustrated by Nadja Sarell ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2023
An early, age-appropriate lesson in how to appreciate the natural world.
Rhymes and pictures urge us to protect the fragility of deceptively sturdy-looking, wildlife-rich meadows.
As in Eat Up, Bear! (2021), author and illustrator again team up to show small folks—and their parents—how to enjoy nature without harming it. The opening spread shows heedless human behavior (littering, flower-picking) in a lovely natural site, but the rest of the book instructs readers how to treat flora and fauna with respect (staying on the trail, observing wildlife from a distance). A rocking, slightly evolving refrain appears on most spreads: “Hello, Meadow! How are you? / We can help our meadows, too!” The simply drawn, brightly hued illustrations are graced with a multitude of accurately depicted plants and animals: red-shouldered hawk, Turk’s-cap lilies, lupine, blue flags, milkweed, monarch butterflies, red-winged blackbird, and much more (though none are identified as such in the text). The friendly mouse on the cover can be spotted on every page, and in the final spread, the very people who were endangering the meadow back at the start are now enjoying the same activities without risking harm to the environment. The last couplet underscores the point: “Every grown-up, every child, / can help keep meadows strong and wild.” Human characters vary in skin color and age, from a bespectacled, light-skinned older adult to a brown-skinned infant in a carrier. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An early, age-appropriate lesson in how to appreciate the natural world. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781951179250
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Yosemite Conservancy
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
Share your opinion of this book
More by Terry Pierce
BOOK REVIEW
by Terry Pierce ; illustrated by Nadja Sarell
BOOK REVIEW
by Terry Pierce ; illustrated by Suzy Ultman
BOOK REVIEW
by Terry Pierce ; illustrated by Carol Heyer
by Jan Gerardi & illustrated by Jan Gerardi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 24, 2012
Put on those gardening gloves; the fruits of this labor beckon.
A young girl watches her garden grow.
Though she's a bit older than the typical board-book audience, her self-reliance makes her an appealing character for toddlers struggling to assert their independence. The strategic use of sturdy flaps provides both peekaboo fun and structure to the storyline. “Yellow daisy. / Red rose. / A bud blooms. / [lift flap] A flower grows.” Some of the interactive elements clearly connect objects to one another (shovel, pail), while other pairings review the progress of the blossoming outdoors. The child enjoys the results of her hard work (smelling a flower has never been so sweet) and waters her lush plants with her pint-sized watering can. Varied vocabulary extends the text. “Harvest carrots / . . . squash and peas. / [lift flap] Pollinated by the bees.” Perhaps due to their having been printed on recycled paper with soy inks, the matte sides of the flaps tend to be darker than the rest, which are glossy.
Put on those gardening gloves; the fruits of this labor beckon. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-307-93041-5
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
Share your opinion of this book
More by David Zeltser
BOOK REVIEW
by David Zeltser ; illustrated by Jan Gerardi
BOOK REVIEW
by Jan Gerardi ; illustrated by Jan Gerardi
by Nancy Tafuri & illustrated by Nancy Tafuri ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 2, 2012
Many bedtime books featuring animal sounds exist, but few are executed with such skill; this one has the potential to become...
That picture-book master for the very young, Caldecott Honoree Tafuri (Have You Seen My Duckling?, 1985), proves the barnyard a fertile setting in her latest offering.
As readers follow mama bird flying around the farm, various animals show affection for their families. In her classic oversized style, the author/illustrator uses watercolors to warmly portray creatures that fascinate young children. The simple text begins, “Little ones love kisses.” But “Little Chick loves Cheep kisses” and “Little Dove loves Cooo kisses.” The familiar barnyard animals included are painted close up, as if to appear life size. And although their common accompanying sounds are reflected in the text, readers will notice softly drawn words for the sounds emanating from the creatures’ mouths. Even an animal that is known for being silent is added: “Little Bunny loves quiet—Sniff—kisses!” The cozy story concludes with what most already know, “the best kiss of all… / is Mommy’s kiss good night.” Little ones will appreciate the large format and respond to the predictable repetition of the text. Slightly older children can interact further with the book by trying to find the blue bird on each full-bleed spread.
Many bedtime books featuring animal sounds exist, but few are executed with such skill; this one has the potential to become a classic. (Picture book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-316-12235-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2011
Share your opinion of this book
More by Nancy Tafuri
BOOK REVIEW
by Nancy Tafuri and illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
BOOK REVIEW
by Nancy Tafuri & illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
BOOK REVIEW
by Nancy Tafuri & illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.