THE NATURE GIRLS

The same 16 inquisitive gals from The Weather Girls (2018) are now traipsing through different biomes to investigate nature.

The identical yellow slickers in the first foray turn into matching yellow safari outfits as the girls set out to explore. They see some bunnies in their own backyard, but a quick page turn places them at a beach swimming with dolphins. In swift succession they march through a rainforest and then a desert (getting some transportation help from a camel). They board a safari vehicle through the grasslands, pile into a plane to the tundra, mush a dog sled across the ice, and end up in a boat traveling to the forest. Each habitat shows a smattering of animals that vigilant readers will have to spot since the bouncy text is rather vague: “It’s time to go. / We march along. / We smile at birds / and share their song.” (In addition to the several types of birds in the accompanying rainforest scene, there are a bush baby, a gecko, a butterfly, and a spotted frog.) Some biomes are named specifically; most are more fully explained in the backmatter. (The poor rainforest is a bit lost in further discussion.) Aki’s playful art shines, showing sneaky tongues out and great big, wide grins on the diverse tots. Mischievous moments add mirth, as when one climbs the sailboat’s mast and another swings from the camel’s tail. A concluding silhouette hints at more adventures to come.

Only rudimentary as a scientific primer but delightful as a harmonious collection of details to pore over.