Day: February 18, 2016

Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

| Tasha

Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer (InfoSoup)

When Daniel discovers that there will be Poetry in the Park on Sunday, he begins to wonder what poetry is. The friends he has made in nature help him start to understand it. Spider says that poetry is “morning dew when it glistens.” For Squirrel, it is “when crisp leaves crunch.” Frog sees it as “a cool pool to dive into.” Owl has many ideas about stars, moonlight and her own silent wings. As Daniel listens to all of the creatures, he realizes that he has created a poem, one that lets him see poetry everywhere just as they do.

Archer’s look at poetry is delightful. She shows poetry connected to each creature’s life, each animal having its own unique way of viewing the world and then turning it into something poetic and special. Young readers will understand poetry just as Daniel does, piece by piece, symbol by symbol in an organic and natural way. While Daniel’s poetry at the end is lovely, I really enjoyed that the book had one final moment where Daniel finds his own personal piece of poetry.

Archer’s illustrations are exceptional. Using a layered technique that involves paint, hand-made block prints, and collage, the illustrations are rich and detailed. They have deep colors that sing on the page and a complexity in texture that is particularly pleasing.

A lush and striking book about poetry and its power in everyone’s life. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from ARC received from Nancy Paulsen Books.

Where My Feet Go by Birgitta Sif

| Tasha

Where My Feet Go by Birgitta Sif

Where My Feet Go by Birgitta Sif

Follow the activities of a young panda and his feet as he goes through his day. First, in the morning his feet go into yellow boots and head outside. He pretends he is walking through a jungle (actually a garden), climbing a high mountain, splashing in the ocean, and crossing a dangerous bridge. In the afternoon, his feet help feed the dinosaurs (birds), swing high in the sky, and cross a sandy desert. At night, his feet explore underwater in his bath and shoot into the sky like the stars as he listens to a bedtime story. Where do your feet go?

This picture book is told by the little panda in first person, aiding in the use of imagination throughout the book. Children will recognize their own daydreams and moments of pretend as the panda goes through his day. The book is simple and playful, inviting children to see what their own feet are up to that day.

The illustrations are hand-drawn with pencil and then digitally colored. They are filled with bright colors like the yellow boots. At the same time, they are subtle too with some parts that read as watercolors particularly in the sky. Filled with shadows to add depth, the entire book has a very unique feel.

Something special is afoot with this picture book that is sure to give children some kicks. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from digital galley received from Penguin Random House and Edelweiss.