School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-4-A young boy and his father follow a country road from an old-fashioned, pastoral setting (Grandpa's farm) to a modern housing development. They encounter wildlife along the way, including a spectacular hawk swooping from a tree and a funny covey of quail scooting along the ground. Grandpa's German shepherd follows them, and horses cavort in a pasture. The abrupt appearance of the construction site signals the end of the hike as well as the end of the road; it's time to turn back. The text is a bit uneven, and although the story is written from the boy's point of view, his father's thoughts and feelings emerge more strongly through his reminiscences and instructional comments during the walk. Illustrations are lavish double-page spreads done in realistic watercolors that highlight the animals and successfully portray the early spring season. The paintings have interesting perspectives, such as views from above and face-to-face animal shots. Overall, this is a quiet story in which the message about the encroachment of progress is delivered gently. Its greatest merits lie in the attractive renderings of the animals, the portrayal of father and son, and as a useful introduction to an environmental theme.-Valerie Lennox, Jacksonville Public Library, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.