WAKE UP, IT’S SPRING!

Nature plays the childhood game of telephone in this tale of spring’s arrival. At the end of a cold winter, it’s the sun that first passes the message along that spring has arrived. As it warms the earth, the earth awakens and announces it to an earthworm. And so the message passes to a seed, a ladybug, a rabbit, a bird, and into the house where it passes through the cat, dog, baby, siblings, and on to the parents. When all are awake, they go outdoors to celebrate in the spring sunshine. Even though it’s the beginning of a new spring day that awakens them, animals that hibernate and those that do not are mixed together in the chain of the message, which could be confusing for children who have a bit of knowledge about animals’ winter habits, or for those who want to know more. The pastel-colored illustrations are perfect for young readers who always want to see things up close. With just enough detail to define the scene, but not enough to overwhelm, they highlight the animals and objects that are familiar to children. (Picture book. 2-5)