Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms

PreS-Gr 2—Sweet little Fletcher the fox is back in a charming, repetitive tale about a spring surprise in this gently animated version of Julia Rawlinson's book (Greenwillow, 2009). As he pulls his cart through a lush, green meadow, Fletcher is alarmed to see snowy flakes falling so late in the season. He rushes off to warn "a pair of birds coo-cooing on a branch," a groggy porcupine, "a squirrel scampering after sunbeams," and some rabbits rolling down a hill. While the birds resolve to fly back south, Porcupine decides to go back to bed, Squirrel hunts for more food, and the carefree rabbits exclaim, "Let's go and play in the snow!" As they all race to the orchard, they discover a snowy blanket of "BLOSSOMS!" The friends scoop up the downy pink and white petals, running and playing until "they all collapsed in a blossomy, soft-white heap." Tiphanie Beeke's chunky pastel illustrations capture the rich greens of the season, with small bursts of colorful flowers and endearing woodland creatures. The screen is awash with yellow sunlight, verdure meadows, and blush blossoms. Observant viewers may notice the pink and purple cast to the "snow," and predict the outcome, though most will probably succumb to Fletcher's misguided concerns. A springtime melody of woodwinds and strings complements the British narrator's telling. An interview with the illustrator shows how she collects ideas and images from photos, the Internet, and YouTube. A lighthearted seasonal tale of friendship and the rites of spring.—Barbara Auerbach, P.S. 217, Brooklyn, NY