While this is not an essential purchase, most little pumpkins will love being told, “Baby, I'm batty for you!” (Board book. For example, the background of the page with the kitty includes pumpkins, hearts, and hats and bows like the ones kitty is wearing. Subtle, shadowed backgrounds repeat the patterns found elsewhere in the book. The same purple is used for the spider's body on the next to last spread. For example, the orange of the pumpkin is repeated in the candy corn, and the purple that adorns kitty's hat and bow becomes the prominent color on the next spread, setting off the friendly white ghost nicely. Although each spread stands alone, there are quiet connections. Lest it become too maudlin, between the “sugary, sweet candy corn” and a “ purr-fect, cuddly kitty” is a “wild, messy monster.” Wan manages to make each drawing expressive and distinctive while relying on just a few shapes-crescents or circles for eyes, dots or ovals accenting cheeks. Young children won't understand the metaphors but will appreciate the sentiment made clear by the repeated, Halloween-themed declarations of love in Wan's latest board book.Įach of the seven spreads presents an endearment illustrated by an object drawn with heavy outlines and just enough detail to invoke its essential characteristics.
Unfortunately, in the one illustration depicting the earth in its path around the sun, the seasons are labeled incorrectly: The North Pole is pointing away from the sun during the “summer solstice.” Still, with a corrected picture replacing this one page, this could be a valuable seasonal resource, as are the two previous (and correct) titles about winter and fall. Bleck’s bright colors sing of spring, and she masterfully brings other cultures to life, capturing the essential parts of each celebration.
Several pages of spring crafts and recipes follow the text, along with a list of print and online resources. The holidays include the Chinese New Year, No Ruz in Iran, Holi in India, Maslenitsa in Russia, the Jewish Passover, the Christian Easter as well as explanations of what the Maya in Mexico and the Cree in America did to mark the spring equinox. Following this are succinct and interesting explanations of how various peoples throughout the world commemorate this day and the historical origins of their celebrations. Beginning with the signs and activities that herald spring’s arrival, there is a short explanation of the spring equinox. Continuing her tributes to the seasons, Pfeffer explores spring in her latest science/history title.
0 kommentar(er)
