Sing a Season Song

K-Gr 2—The prolific Yolen has written a paean to the eternal cycle of the seasons, beginning with winter and ending as fall fades into that season once again. The poetry evokes some interesting images: "Water, waves,/shimmering days./Toes wiggle,/fish wriggle/in a strange haze." And again: "Pumpkins and gourds/and the clamor/ of herds./Honking geese Vs.,/And the bare-bones of trees." However, it is Ashlock's pencil and watercolor illustrations that are the standout here. The artist focuses her attention largely on the animal world with sometimes startlingly realistic depictions of snowy owls, foxes, otters, weasels, snowshoe hares, deer, and many more. The animals peek out from hollow tree trunks and through blades of grass, and it is often necessary to spend some enjoyable time studying the pages to make sure you haven't missed that hedgehog or opossum hanging by its tail. Often the animals (particularly that magnificent snowy owl) appear to be making direct eye contact with readers. People are seen in the background, engaging in appropriate seasonal activities, as if unaware that their forest friends are so close by.