Under Ground

Fleming invites youngsters to observe underground creatures, large and small, as well as their tunnels, burrows, food sources, and activities. The story begins with a robin, high in a tree, swooping down to catch a tasty worm. Double-page spreads then show cross-sections of a garden, both above and below ground -- in addition to the busy place at the surface where the two intersect. Fleming’s rhyming text is spare ("Low down. / Way down. / Under ground. / Creatures dig / and run around") and occasionally elliptical; while the few words on the pages may compel readers to flip quickly through the book, the gorgeous images invite lingering contemplation. Fleming’s pulp-painting collage illustrations are rich with texture and color: soft green leaves, fuzzy white roots, and grainy brown soil. The pages hum with life and activity. Mammals, plants, insects, and rodents are all featured, with each growing and moving; there’s not a still moment in the book (or in the natural setting) to be found. An appended "Creature Identification" spread shows thumbnails of a selection of the animals (not all of them are included) along with brief paragraphs about how they use underground space. Kids who spend time with this book will want to get their hands dirty to investigate for themselves what life is like for these fascinating underground creatures. ashley waring