ONE FALL DAY
by Molly Bang & illustrated by Molly Bang
The ever-inventive Bang (two Caldecott Honors) uses some of her favorite images in a deceptively simple bedtime story with several layers of visual and conceptual meaning. Bang has constructed three-dimensional collages of handmade toys and interiors made of recognizable materials (a boxy blue car with bottle-cap wheels gives a clue to the sizes of the originals), which are then photographed with extraordinary clarity. The story takes a dark-faced doll (addressed in the second person) through one happily productive day. "You" and your friends—gray cat, paper crane, polar bear, dinosaur, yellow ball—wake in an intensely red room, well appointed with art supplies; enjoy breakfast and outdoor play; wonder at a rain storm and the leaves it brings down; spend the afternoon working, reading, and creating a childlike painting that recaps many of the day's activities; and complete the cycle after a cozy bedtime ritual. The busy, predictable day, crisp images, and primary colors that dominate the art are all perfect for very young children; meanwhile, Bang's sophisticated compositions and creative use of imagery and materials will engage older children and adults. A beautiful and intriguing book with much to discover at any age. (Picture book. 1-6)