Boom Boom

August 25, 2014
What from the title and cover appears to be a celebration of the noisy excitement of a thunderstorm turns out to have a broader aim as readers follow a classroom of preschoolers through four seasons’ worth of explorations. First-time author Naberhaus contributes ultra-spare verse that dwells on the sounds and sights around the children: “BOOM BOOM/ Flash! Flash!/ drip drip/ Splash! Splash!” Chodos-Irvine—who knows her way around illustrating a storm after 2012’s Dinosaur Thunder—shows the children startled by initial roar of the storm (while most gather around a window to watch lightning strike, one boy crouches in the foreground, his hands pressed firmly over his ears). But soon that boy and all the rest are outdoors splashing in puddles, and as time passes, they are seen examining newly bloomed flowers, blowing dandelion fluff, and enjoying the “crunch crunch” of autumn—a sound that can represent both the raking of leaves and the chomping of apples, as Chodos-Irvine’s graphic, mixed-media prints reveal. Understated yet evocative. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Linda Pratt,
Wernick & Pratt.

August 15, 2014
This exploration of seasons featuring a multicultural group of preschoolers is sure to please its target audience. Using a combination of printmaking techniques and nontraditional art supplies (plastic lace, vinyl fabric, erasers and more), Chodos-Irvine leads viewers through the textures of a changing landscape and the actions that accompany the seasonal phenomena. From puddle-jumping through a spring storm and finding insects among summer blossoms to jumping in leaf piles and catching snowflakes, these youngsters are engaged with their environment. Naberhaus employs two or four words per double-page spread in her sound poem: "BOOM BOOM // Flash! Flash! // drip drip // Splash! / splash!" Some words appear to be included because they rhyme, not because they are actually appropriately onomatopoeic, a choice that weakens the text somewhat; no one says or really hears "fuzz fuzz" when blowing a dandelion, but nevertheless it follows "buzz buzz." Similarly, is "silent // silent" really necessary in the quiet snow scene? Those points aside, very young children will benefit from the repetition and enjoy the range of perspectives and emotions provided by the artist who created Ella Sarah Gets Dressed (2003). Familiar seasonal fun for the young. (Picture book. 2-4)

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August 1, 2014

PreS-This large, brightly colored picture book with very few words revolves around a class of preschoolers experiencing the four seasons. The thunderstorms of spring give way to the sun and flowers of summer, then to the fall leaves and winter snowflakes. Pictures have been created from various nontraditional materials, including textured wallpaper, stencils, plastic lace, and vinyl fabric, set against mainly white backgrounds. They show the children exploring the outside world as the weather changes. Text is minimal, limited to the sound of the outside world: "drip drip," "crinkle crinkle," "swirl swirl." Tying everything together is the underlying growing friendship between two of the children-a shy boy and an outgoing girl-depicted wordlessly through the illustrations. A solid choice for the very young.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Preschool A multicultural classroom of preschool children experience each of the four seasons in this appealing picture book. Readers follow two children who become friends during a loud spring thunderstormshe is thrilled with the turmoil, while he is frightened. Along with their classmates, the youngsters actively use their five senses to understand and appreciate the opportunities for entertainment distinct to each season. Their adventures include experiencing the storm and puddles in spring, blowing dandelion fluff and searching for insects in summer, eating crisp apples and gathering leaves in fall, and throwing snowballs, making snow angels, and listening to the hush of winter. The rhyming text consists of 16 words, mainly onomatopoeic: BOOM BOOM Flash! Flash! drip drip Splash! Splash! This also works as a beginning reader, while the bold, clear illustrations make it appealing for even very young children learning about their world. Chodos-Irvine's use of textured wallpaper, plastic lace, stencils, vinyl fabric, other nontraditional materials, and various printmaking techniques creates intriguing illustrations that are enjoyable to study. An engaging exploration of the seasons.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)