From Publishers Weekly
Four children treat nature as their playmate in Siddals's (Tell Me a Season) cheerful book. A waking boy tells the sun, "Meet me outside," and a girl greets the wind as she brushes her teeth. While sitting in a grassy field with his pet beagle, another boy challenges the clouds ("You make some pictures. I'll guess what they are"). The speakers are not just fair-weather friends; one girl implores the rain to "fill up the puddles so I can go splashing," then dons a yellow slicker and leaps right in. At day's end, all four unite on a hillside under a vast star-filled sky; Wisniewski's (Workshop) cutout shapes in variegated shades of post-dusk blue accentuate the depth and height of the panoramic view. Then the children, each back in their own rooms, fall asleep with the moon shining through the window. Wisniewski depicts detailed images of tiny leaves, draped cloth and the children's alert faces, as well as more abstract ideas, such as an invisible wind, which he whips up by slicing a spiral of semi-transparent paper. The author avoids anthropomorphizing the weather, simply by imagining how a person addresses a silent-but-agreeable companion: "You twinkle, and I'll try to count you," the children tell the stars. Although the young characters spend time apart from human companions, it's a comforting solitude that suggests a fresh connection with the world. Ages 2-5. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-In this well-crafted picture book, characteristics of the sun, wind, clouds, rain, stars, and moon are revealed from a child's point of view, as several youngsters ask the different elements to play with them. The text is simple, but rich with detail: "I'll play with you, Sun./Meet me outside./I'll help you make shadows./I'll hide while you climb./Then poke through the branches/and tickle me warm." The bright, bold, cut-paper artwork captures the feelings and images described in the verses. The sun looks warm and creates interesting shadows, the blowing and swirling motion of the wind is illustrated by the graceful movement of a collection of fall-colored leaves, and the nighttime scenes are depicted in cool shades of blue. Although the book's small size may make it difficult to use with large audiences, young listeners are bound to enjoy this attractive offering and the smooth, rhythmic text is well suited to reading aloud.
Melinda Schroeter, North Tonawanda Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
