And Then It's Spring
good books for bigs and littles
"Winter is coming," as they say, and that always makes me nostalgic for the warmer months. Perhaps what's that led me to pick up a copy of And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead. The book's illustrations though, were what really sold me. Stead uses crisp lines to embrace rich watercolors, at times letting the watercolors bleed to create skyscapes that really look like clouds billowing above the landscape. There's even a nod (intended or otherwise) to artists such as Andrew Wyeth, with the small red farmhouse lingering in the distance.
The pacing of the story is slow, as the main characters (a seven-ish-year-old boy, his dog, his rabbit, and his turtle) wait for spring to come. As a result, I wasn't sure whether my toddler would like it or not, but it was a hit. There are few words, with the story driven by the illustrations. The great art, the child + animals protagonists (free of any adult intrusion) and a story about a favorite activity (playing in the dirt) made this a big winner for STORY TIME in my house.