Questions, Questions
Inspired by an Italian song, this brightly illustrated picture book asks a series of questions related to the natural world. The rhyming text, translated from the original German, is simple enough for sharing with preschoolers. A horizontal painting, showing the cross section of the ground with four stages of a young plant�s growth, illustrates the question �How do seeds know how to grow, to reach up from the earth below?� The artwork for �What makes fire burn red and gold and makes it much too hot to hold?� is more abstract, with flowing shapes in overlapping tones of white, yellow, orange, and black. Best known for the Rainbow Fish series, Pfister uses a less controlled approach here, applying acrylic paints by printing them on paper using thick cut-cardboard shapes as blocks. Interesting fractal-like effects add texture. An illustrator�s note explains the technique and encourages readers to try it. This visually appealing picture book asks open-ended questions and lets children ponder the answers. Preschool-Grade 2. --Carolyn Phelan