Walter Was Worried
PreSchool-Grade 2–Seeger combines word art and simple text to tell the story of children's reactions to a storm. As it progresses from dark clouds to thunder to rain to snow and, finally, to sun, a different individual is introduced. The youngsters' emotions are literally spelled out on their faces (Walter was worried; Priscilla was puzzled; Shirley was shocked) as the letters of the alliterative adjectives are used to portray their features. For example, E's are put on their backs to become eyebrows; a C and a D are turned upside down to become eyes, and an L becomes a nose. The choice of names and adjectives is equally wide ranging and inventive, combining Ursula and Elliot with upset and ecstatic. The artwork uses bold colors with wide brush marks as backdrops and primary colors with almost graphic shapes to represent rain, snow flakes, leaves, and branches. With only one sentence per page, there is surprising depth in this wonderful collaboration of art and story.–Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.