Life

PreS-Gr 2—A spiritual yet not overtly religious epistle on hope and the many reasons to embrace life. It opens with the notion that "life begins small." Wenzel shows a seedling surrounded by mountains. The next spread declares: "Even for the elephants. Then it grows." A calf is seen looking up to the enormous adults in its herd. Several animals discuss what they love about life, and as the author acknowledges that "life is not always easy," readers observe a bluebird flying through a storm. They are asked to remember that there is always "something to love…and to protect." The narrative continues in this vein, promising that "it is worth waking up in the morning to see what might happen." The mood of the child-friendly illustrations shifts appropriately from the darkness of the wilderness to the vitality of life seen in a flock of birds crossing the moon. The illustrator infuses the book with humor where possible, such as in the expression of a floppy-eared, stick-bearing dog or a camel kicking up sand across a spread. However, Rylant's meandering messages on growth, love, protection, new roads, and—oddly—the value of waking up, raise the question of whether this title has an audience, particularly since these themes are unconnected to one another or to a story. Wenzel's exuberant paintings, though, are quite engaging and convey a deep appreciation for the wonders of the natural world.