Would You Come Too?

K-Gr 2–This book invites readers to explore the outside world, describing multiple aspects of nature and leading from one thought right into another, from the safety of home all the way to the ocean and back again. For example, something like a nest may be mentioned on one page, but is the focus on the next. “If we were a nest, we’d be cozy, / woven with feathers and strings. / If we were eggs, we’d be safe there, / hidden beneath pleated wings.” The vocabulary is simple, with a few upper-level nature words thrown in, such as eddy, but are always clear from either narrative context or the illustration. Scanlon provides amazing encouragement for children to go outside, get muddy, and explore, a message only enhanced by Sudyka’s illustrations. Her cool, rich watercolors perfectly encapsulate the feeling of wonder and discovery.