Life

Addressing readers directly, the narrator opens with a modest statement: “Life begins small.” See an elephant grow bigger as it walks underneath the fierce sun and gentle moon, through days and nights. Life, it seems, also promises change—and wonders. A hawk soars in the sky, while elsewhere, a camel stands tall in a desert. Sitting on a rock, a turtle relishes the “rain on its back.” Each glimpse of an animal in the natural world elicits a small jolt of joy thanks in part to Caldecott honoree Wenzel’s exquisite illustrations, which render these moments with low-key precision. On one page, dark and soft blues bathe an adult elephant and its smaller companion, both gray beacons in a picture of a nighttime march. On another page, a snake blends in with the smeared greens, yellowed brown, and hints of reds that make up the grass. But even with all these merry images, moments of bleakness can follow. The narrator proposes another fact: “Life is not always easy.” A small bird flies alone and vulnerable through a storm, seeming lost before it finally breaks through. Thankfully, Rylant keeps the narratorial voice direct and brief during scenes serene or frightful. Flashes of levity in the illustrations and text (think “grassssssssssss”) serve to underscore the creators’ trust in readers. 

A splendid tribute to the world and its splendors, with something to offer audiences of a broad range of ages. (Picture book. 4-adult)

Rylant (Creation) looks to the natural world for wisdom and consolation as Wenzel's (They All Saw a Cat) lush, heavily worked artwork imagines a primordial Earth with few signs of human existence. "Life begins small," Rylant opens; among bare hills, a lone plant sprouts from red earth. "Then it grows." A fantastic gathering of wild animals and birds looks out at readers expectantly. "Ask any animal on earth, what do you love about life?" Each animal has its own answer ("The hawk will say sky"), and its distinctive nature and perception determine the way it sees the world, just as ours do. Difficulties appear and fade, and when low moments come, "trust the rabbit in the field and the deer who crosses your path." Animals are not just wise: twin vignettes of an eager dog and a wide-eyed cat remind readers that "in every corner of the world, there is something to love." Readers in search of inspiration that does not need to be taken on faith will find it in Rylant's message that to live is to grow. All ages. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (June)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--A spiritual yet not overtly religious epistle on hope and the many reasons to embrace life. It opens with the notion that "life begins small." Wenzel shows a seedling surrounded by mountains. The next spread declares: "Even for the elephants. Then it grows." A calf is seen looking up to the enormous adults in its herd. Several animals discuss what they love about life, and as the author acknowledges that "life is not always easy," readers observe a bluebird flying through a storm. They are asked to remember that there is always "something to love...and to protect." The narrative continues in this vein, promising that "it is worth waking up in the morning to see what might happen." The mood of the child-friendly illustrations shifts appropriately from the darkness of the wilderness to the vitality of life seen in a flock of birds crossing the moon. The illustrator infuses the book with humor where possible, such as in the expression of a floppy-eared, stick-bearing dog or a camel kicking up sand across a spread. However, Rylant's meandering messages on growth, love, protection, new roads, and--oddly--the value of waking up, raise the question of whether this title has an audience, particularly since these themes are unconnected to one another or to a story. Wenzel's exuberant paintings, though, are quite engaging and convey a deep appreciation for the wonders of the natural world. VERDICT Best shared in an interactive setting.--Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Rylant (Creation) looks to the natural world for wisdom and consolation as Wenzel's (They All Saw a Cat) lush, heavily worked artwork imagines a primordial Earth with few signs of human existence. "Life begins small," Rylant opens; among bare hills, a lone plant sprouts from red earth. "Then it grows." A fantastic gathering of wild animals and birds looks out at readers expectantly. "Ask any animal on earth, what do you love about life?" Each animal has its own answer ("The hawk will say sky"), and its distinctive nature and perception determine the way it sees the world, just as ours do. Difficulties appear and fade, and when low moments come, "trust the rabbit in the field and the deer who crosses your path." Animals are not just wise: twin vignettes of an eager dog and a wide-eyed cat remind readers that "in every corner of the world, there is something to love." Readers in search of inspiration that does not need to be taken on faith will find it in Rylant's message that to live is to grow.—Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW "April 10, 2017 "