School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS-As the seasons grow and the colors change, a parent's love always stays the same. This wonderful story has a dreamlike feel as it highlights the changing cycle of nature in contrast to the ever-present love of a parent represented through beautifully illustrated animals. The images are a bold combination of digitally crafted pictures with soft watercolor elements that set a calm and comforting tone throughout. The palette cleverly corresponds with the seasonal change. The illustrations use light and shadows to provide depth and life to the two-dimensional characters and setting. Each page is dominated by a pairing of a grown and young animal in their natural habitat; the text is to the side in a large, easy-to-read font, allowing the visuals to be the focus. The text uses simple rhymes and vocabulary in short sentences to captivate readers. It actively encourages word recognition through a stylish font that draws attention to certain words by the use of varying text sizes. The soft tones, both textual and visual, make this story perfect for bedtime and cuddle sessions. VERDICT Children will feel warm and safe while reading this charming story with an adult who adores them.-Haley Amendt, Hinton Municipal Library, Alta. © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
This gentle bedtime book presents animal child and guardian pairs playing, exploring, and expressing their affection throughout the year. A fox and kit are together "when ice lights up the night/ and snowflakes drift/ upon the breeze," and a rabbit parent places a reassuring paw on the young rabbit's neck; the two gaze at a sunrise. A smoky gray horse and foal trot through a meadow, two squirrels curl up on a tree branch, and a wolf parent and pup share an affectionate gaze in a golden woodland clearing. Mason's soft, light-filled landscapes convey a sense of the distant unknown, making the closeness of the animal companions especially poignant. Ages 2-5. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
