Reviews
PreS-There are plenty of books on the growth process of living things, but this one will be particularly attractive to the very young. A small boy explores: "Here in the meadow, by the woods and the pond, everything is growing, just like me." Keller's brightly colored, cheerful illustrations show varied plants and animals changing-white blossoms transform into blackberries, a caterpillar turns into a tiger-colored butterfly, black polliwogs become green frogs, and a little acorn develops into a large oak tree. The rhythmical, spare text uses only a few well-chosen descriptive words for each example and the book ends on a satisfying note when the child addresses his infant sibling: "Little baby brother, what in the world will you grow up to be? You'll see! One day you'll be a big boy-just like me." This lovely concept book underlines the continuity of all living things, and is an excellent choice to share with preschoolers in the spring.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA, With appealing simplicity, Rockwell (Our Earth) spotlights changes in nature, as a barefoot boy observes the world around him, noting, "Everything is growing, just like me." The lyrical narrative presents examples of natural evolution: "Blue eggs, safe and warm in their nest... will hatch into robins that sing in the grass" and "A speckled cloud with a fish standing guard... will soon be lots of shining silver fish, swimming round and round the pond." Keller's (A Bed Full of Cats) unadorned, boldly colored watercolor and pen-and-ink pictures bring these changes into crisp focus, alternating full-bleed scenarios with close-up shots that zoom in on a caterpillar, pollywogs and an acorn lying on fallen leaves. After viewing the acorn, readers flip the page--and turn the book from a horizontal to a vertical position--to see the boy swinging from the branches of a sprawling oak tree, as he entreats the acorn to "Sprout and spread roots! Stretch your green leaves up to the sky! Grow into a tall oak tree." The volume ends by bringing home an example close to readers: as the narrator addresses his cherubic baby brother, asking him what "will you grow up to be?" and responding, "One day you'll be a big boy--just like me." An amiable introduction to natural growth. Ages 2-5.
Synopsis
Everything in nature grows up--just like you and me! It's springtime, and the local pond is bursting with new life. Shiny black pollywogs are growing into fat frogs, and baby robins hatch from pale blue eggs. The blackberry bushes are full of sweet, juicy berries, and new monarch butterflies emerge from their cocoons. Listen closely, and you can hear the cheeping ducklings announcing, "Spring is here!" Anne Rockwell and Holly Keller, two beloved children's book creators, team up to celebrate this season of growth., Everything in nature grows up--just like you and me It's springtime, and the local pond is bursting with new life. Shiny black pollywogs are growing into fat frogs, and baby robins hatch from pale blue eggs. The blackberry bushes are full of sweet, juicy berries, and new monarch butterflies emerge from their cocoons. Listen closely, and you can hear the cheeping ducklings announcing, "Spring is here " Anne Rockwell and Holly Keller, two beloved children's book creators, team up to celebrate this season of growth.
