A Perfect Day

K-Gr 2–A minimalist tribute to summer, this book begins with sounds: chirps, croaks, buzzes. Words are used sparingly throughout, to signal the scoring of the season’s “symphony,” and the art is pared down as well: one vibrant yellow bird, one butterfly, one frog, one snake, some grass fronds. A few flowers suggest a meadow, five trees make a grove. But the scarlet petals, brilliant blue sky, and red fox pop against flat backgrounds. The plot is merely the passage of time and weather. There is a fork of lightning, a page of rain-streaks and curved stalks—the storm brings drums, cymbals, and maracas, then passes. The depthless art might evoke Japanese prints, or equally honor the simplicity and space of a region that resembles the midwest. First published in France, the book seeks readers who can appreciate stylized illustrations and respond to the soundtrack of nature.