White Is for Blueberry (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))
PreSchool-Grade 2–If Georgia O'Keeffe had made a book for young children, it might have looked like this one. Close-ups of natural phenomenon in a vibrant palette combine with strategic pacing to undo the viewer's preconceptions about color. This creative duo has selected 10 images with which to stage their drama. The minimalist text appears in black ink, except for the words that name the colors; they are enlarged and color-coordinated. Thus, the opening page depicts a black crow, but the text reads, "Pink is for crow…." The page turn reveals a spread showing a nest of newborn birds and the conclusion: "…when it has just hatched from its egg." In like manner, author and artist pair purple and snow, blue and firelight, yellow and pine trees. The disconnect between the written hue and the initial object, combined with the elliptical construction, allows older children to guess and predict the outcomes and younger ones to be surprised. The bold, uncluttered scenes, rendered in acrylics, have a sweetness and strength that is quite pleasing to the eye. Easy to read and fun to share, this paean to the wonder of cycles and the rewards of close observation is the perfect prelude to a thoughtful excursion. Fans of Shannon and Dronzek would also enjoy titles such as Tana Hoban'sLook! Look! Look!(HarperCollins, 1988; o.p.) and N. N. Charles'sWhat Am I? Looking Through Shapes at Apples and Grapes(Scholastic, 1994).–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.