A CHILD’S DAY

Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “To Any Reader” acts as the inspiration for this celebration of traditional youthful play in Pearle’s debut. Multicultural cut-paper children each highlight a different activity verb associated with childhood games or independent play. The art’s focus is on the specified action for each letter, showcased individually on single-page, colored backgrounds. Word choices and illustrations vary from straightforward selections to unusual material: The letter B depicts a child blowing a pinwheel, the letter D demonstrates dance, but the picture of the letter R features two youngsters riding a zebra. An upper-case and lower-case letter are clearly identifiable on the top corner of each page, and the alphabet is featured in its entirety in the entry’s conclusion. Due to the small format, this offering is best viewed individually, instead of in large group settings. These collage illustrations attempt to convey the whimsy of childhood innocence in bygone days, but adults are more likely to appreciate this nostalgic work. (Picture book. 3-6)