A Year with Friends

February 18, 2013
This cheerful tour of the months of the year pairs Christy's airy artwork with simple sentences that introduce seasonal activities. The spreads offer silent mini-narratives that unfold in varying numbers of panels, with whimsical thematic images encircling each scene. Images of muddy footprints and handprints form a border for the April spread ("April is time to get messy"), while the main panels show a dark-haired boy making a running leap into a mud puddle, with joyfully explosive results. In February, "time for snuggling," a cat delivers a valentine to the same boy, seen reading under the covers of his bed, while in May ("time for flowers"), a red-headed girl and her dog plant seeds, which blossom into quite the garden. Rather than mentioning specific holidays by name, the book hints at festive occasionsâ"July is time for fireworks"; "October is time for tricks and treats"âkeeping the emphasis on the generous, sociable, and downright fun things friends do together. Christy's illustrations provide humor, energy, and entertainment with year-round appeal. Ages 3â6.

November 15, 2012
While lots of books about seasons are available, this one is as fresh and crisp as a cool fall breeze. Each month is jauntily illustrated with a two-page spread of panels and one pertinent line: "January is time for rolling down hills"; "February is time for snuggling." A boy and a girl (both Caucasian) alternate in the scenes from January through July up to August, when they meet at the beach, build a sand castle and become friends for the remaining months. "April is time to get messy" is depicted with the boy in a yellow slicker and red boots jumping in a puddle. In July, the girl carries popcorn and a blanket as she and her dog walk to a grassy spot to watch fireworks. The narrative ends: "A new year is time for fun with new friends!" The charm is in the narrative's simplicity and the breezy, soft-edged artwork that captures the special wonder of each month. There are lots of ideas for displays and monthly themes for storytimes. This expressive childhood tribute to the joys of nature throughout the year warmly conveys the message that anytime is best when shared with a friend. (Picture book. 3-5)

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January 1, 2013

PreS-K-A beautiful, fun, and minimalist journey through the seasons. Each month is accompanied by soft illustrations of children enjoying the treasures it brings, e.g., February is "time for snuggling," June is "time for bugs," and July is "time for fireworks." The format is varied, with panels, spreads, and full-page pictures, and the art is delightful. Youngsters are sure to take pleasure in following the characters' activities throughout the year. Great for a lap read, or for a lesson on the months or seasons.-Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
Preschool-K In this pleasing concept book, husband-and-wife author-illustrator team Seven and Christy introduce two children enjoying typical activities throughout each month of the year. January finds a girl sledding with her dog; a boy cuddles with his valentine-bearing cat in February. The two characters alternate activities (chasing a hat in the wind, jumping in puddles, enjoying flowers, hunting bugs, and watching fireworks) until August, when they meet at the beach. Activities are shared for the rest of the year: picking apples in September, trick-or-treating in October, feasting in November, and sharing cocoa and cookies in December. Seven's succinct text only hints at story ( August is time for the beach ), while Christy's sunny, paneled illustrations flesh out the details: a boy chases a ball, he meets a sand-castle-building girl, and they play together. A good choice for seasonal story hours; pair with Eve Bunting's Sing a Song of Piglets: A Calendar in Verse (2002) or perennial favorite Chicken Soup with Rice (1962), by Maurice Sendak.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)