Leaves! Leaves! Leaves!
PreSchool-Grade 2-As in Apples, Apples, Apples (Winslow, 2000) and Pumpkin Day (Marshall Cavendish, 2002), Wallace successfully blends fiction and nonfiction, art and informational text. Buddy Bear and his mama go on leaf walks during the different seasons of the year. They observe, collect, and examine leaves and trees in various stages of their annual cycles. During these excursions, the little bear asks probing questions and his mother answers using clever analogies and other techniques of a gifted teacher. The cub's lively curiosity will be contagious to readers and his playful riddles add to the enjoyment. The final pages and endpapers include a diagram of a tree, suggestions for a leaf-rubbing activity, and an identification chart. Wallace's signature cut-paper collages of animal characters against simple backgrounds work well, since the flat look is particularly appropriate for the subject matter. This will be a welcome addition to any collection in the autumn months when a demand for these books is high and, considering the scope of the text, it works well year-round.Rachel G. Payne, New York Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.