I WANT TO...

It’s not just the flowers that bloom in spring.

Originally published in China, this tale greets readers with grassy meadows, bushy trees, and budding flowers. Cheng’s thin black lines give texture to the warm pastel color palette, resulting in an unaffected charm. Two unnamed children, both with brown hair and light skin, are observed exploring the landscapes while spare text punctuates each page. The narrative is deceptively simple. Initially the children wish to feel the wonder of spring as their floral counterparts do. “I want to s t r e t c h my hand / to the tip of the tree branch // And grow with the flower buds, showering in sunbeams.” The lyrical narrative gradually gives way to whimsy, describing fantastical desires “to cruise down the river in a lily-pad boat. / And adventure into the sea.” Here one child is shown rowing an oversized lily pad, directed by a striped frog as colorful fish greet them. Eventually the journey of the children parallels the rebirth of the season as the narrative ends with the declaration that “I want to be a flower, ready to bloom.” The only outlier in this springtime meditation is an expressed wish to go sledding on “miles of snow” surrounded by snowmen. This may seem confusing for some, depending on their geography, but it is a small price to pay. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.375-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 79.7% of actual size.)

A fanciful tale that captures the joyful energy of budding youth.