TIME RUNS LIKE A RIVER

Both rivers and time flow naturally: a gift to be glad for.

Two children—one brown-skinned, one tan-skinned—set off for a day of gentle discovery in the lush fields and streams around them, exploring the parallels between the passage of time and a river’s flow. “The seconds drip by in drops. / Each minute trickles, an hour ripples.” Time may seem to slow down as we face conflict, “but like water, you’ll find your way.” Soft lines and earthy hues portray the youngsters communing with nature as the rhyming verse assures readers that change is something to embrace, not fear. Carlisle switches to sepia tones to indicate times past and uses pencil outlines to depict the children growing into adults, denoting their dreams of the future. The meditative text is on the heady side, but adults sharing it one-on-one with their little ones will find it an inviting jumping-off point for discussions about the natural world. The informative and age-appropriate afterword further educates young people about river habitats, while the final pages suggest relevant activities, such as going on a nature scavenger hunt or collecting rocks.

Contemplative fare for those undergoing change or reveling in nature’s timeless splendor.