Starred review from February 1, 2021
Ever wonder what kids wonder about? Two kids, likely siblings, take a "wonder walk" outside. They greet nature with awe and ask themselves (and, not so incidentally, readers) questions articulated in language that is spare and economic yet profound and beautifully poetic. Only wonderstruck children, confronting nature's gorgeous mysteries, could express themselves so intimately, creatively, and originally. Youngsters reading/hearing this book on laps or in groups, and grown-ups, too, will be charmed, enlightened, and moved by these breathless queries. Ponder: "Is the sun the world's light bulb?" "Are trees the sky's legs?" "Is dirt the world's skin?" "Is the wind the world breathing?" Occasionally, the walkers summarize their thoughts with a solemn exchange: " 'I wonder.' / 'Me too.' " At last, the exploratory journey culminates with nighttime, which evokes a lovely question of its own. The simple text is composed mostly of the duo's questions; spreads feature one or two queries apiece. Each should be carefully read aloud to allow for serious listener consideration and response. At the book's conclusion, children may want space to discuss, dictate, write, and/or illustrate their own questions/ideas about nature. Luminous ink-and-collage illustrations are lush and vivid, perfectly suiting the text. The pair are kids of color, one with long, straight, black hair and the other with brown curls. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 37.4% of actual size.) Excellent for enriching vocabulary, developing creative thinking, and enhancing a love of nature. (Picture book. 3-7)
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January 26, 2022
Preschool-Grade 1 *Starred Review* Two brown-skinned children set out on a wonder walk. Along the way, they ponder questions about the world around them: ""Is the sun the world's light bulb?"" ""Is fog the river's blanket?"" ""Do mountains have bones?"" Many of their queries compare natural features to the human body: ""Are trees the sky's legs?"" ""Are rivers the earth's veins?"" Their inquiries consider forests, mountains, caves, rivers, and the ocean, concluding at home with, ""Is the moon the world's night-light?"" Archer's mixed-media illustrations feature a sunny palette of greens, yellows, and blues depicting their natural surroundings; the kids each wear an item of red clothing that helps to focus readers' attention and center them in the narrative. Most notable is the art itself, composed of collage spreads created with handmade papers that have been painted and stamped with patterns. The resulting layering adds a sense of three-dimensionality that enhances the presentations. Also striking is the spread depicting a cutaway view reaching into the soil; it includes pebbles and other items that visually resemble the layers of epidermis to which it is being compared. Likewise, the illustrations of wind (swirls of white) and rain (blue and white streaks) are also memorable. Both visually arresting and original in concept, this will give readers much to ponder.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
July 1, 2021
Two children sit inside a house near a shore, peering out the window. "Wonder walk?" asks one child. "Sure," the other responds. At the page-turn, the children are outdoors, and the wondering begins. As they explore, they pose a series of questions about what they see in nature, questions invoking metaphors and personification: "Is the sun the world's light bulb?" "Is fog the river's blanket?" "Are trees the sky's legs?" No answers are required; the wonderment alone sustains them. Archer's (Daniel's Good Day, rev. 7/19) collage illustrations, using tissue paper and patterned papers, burst forth with vibrant colors, beguiling textures, and boundless energy. The double-page spreads employ little white space (there's too much of the outdoors to revel in) yet are never too busy; Archer knows just where to direct viewers' eyes. A sense of movement propels the narrative: clouds float; fog blankets the river; ocean waves lap against the shore; and the wind swirls around the children's faces. Beautifully rendered -- and wonderful in every way. Julie Danielson
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2021
Two children sit inside a house near a shore, peering out the window. "Wonder walk?" asks one child. "Sure," the other responds. At the page-turn, the children are outdoors, and the wondering begins. As they explore, they pose a series of questions about what they see in nature, questions invoking metaphors and personification: "Is the sun the world's light bulb?" "Is fog the river's blanket?" "Are trees the sky's legs?" No answers are required; the wonderment alone sustains them. Archer's (Daniel's Good Day, rev. 7/19) collage illustrations, using tissue paper and patterned papers, burst forth with vibrant colors, beguiling textures, and boundless energy. The double-page spreads employ little white space (there's too much of the outdoors to revel in) yet are never too busy; Archer knows just where to direct viewers' eyes. A sense of movement propels the narrative: clouds float; fog blankets the river; ocean waves lap against the shore; and the wind swirls around the children's faces. Beautifully rendered -- and wonderful in every way.
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)