written by Phillis Gershator and illustrated by Alison Jay
Barefoot Books, hardback
Phillis Gershator's rhythmic verse and Alison Jay's intricate images come together beautifully to celebrate the sights and sounds of the seasons. The lyrical, rhyming text is engaging, and a hide-and-seek section at the end of the text helps children learn what happens in nature each season. The wonderful illustrations are sure to open children's eyes and ears to the world around them and the changing of the seasons, from sizzling summer to winter's crackling snow. Barefoot Books gives its new title a 'reading alone' age range of four to seven and a 'read together' range of nought to four.
Elusive Moose
written by Joan Gannii and illustrated by Clare Beaton
Barefoot Books, board book
This hide-and-seek adventure takes readers to the Far North. Moose are very shy, but if you look carefully, you will find one in every scene of this story - while meeting all kinds of northern critters and learning lots of fascinating facts about them along the way. This is a wonderful board book full of Clare Beaton's trademark fabric collages. It has been nominated for this year's Kate Greenaway Award, to be announced in spring 2008.
First Snow
written by Bernette Ford and illustrated by Sebarien Braun
Boxer Books, paperback
A snowfall covers the meadow as Bunny, his brothers and sisters snooze close to their mother. On waking, the bunnies sniff the cold winter air and set off to discover the delights of winter ... chipmunks gathering pine cones and children making a snowman. Soft, moody watercolours convey the chill of the moonlit winter's night, but the real delight of this book is its use of descriptive language. The snow is 'swirling, blowing, twirling down', the chipmunks 'snooping under drooping branches', while the bunnies are 'hopping, stumbling, rolling, tumbling'.
Tip Tip Dig Dig
by Emma Garcia
Boxer Books, hardback
A parade of construction vehicles join forces to clear a mess: the crane lift, lift, lifts, the digger dig, dig, digs, the steamroller roll, roll, rolls, and together create a wonderful playground. The illustrations are gloriously vibrant, with elements of collage and broad brushstrokes.
