My Forest Is Green

PreS-Gr 1—A young artist presents a close-up analysis of an urban forest in this colorful examination of the outdoors through various art media. He explores and depicts elements on the ground that are tall and short, textures that are fluffy and prickly, and the varying colors seen from an aerial outlook on a high-rise terrace. The images glow through cut-paper collage shapes, leaf prints, and watercolor, acrylic paint, and crayon hues that imitate nature from seed pods to bark. The boy investigates ants on the ground, wide and narrow trees, heavy and light rocks, dense and "sparse" bushes. Rain, snow, "scattered and soggy, and spotty and foggy." Vibrant color and an endless list of adjectives shape the description of both large vistas and small scenes from the forest floor. "My forest sings and dances" with visual suggestions and a lyrical text for the young artist uncovering nature through multiple art media. VERDICT A lovely celebration of all things green, this is a suggested general purchase; especially suited for budding artists and young nature lovers.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Colorful cut-paper collages adorned with watercolor, acrylic, and pencil crayon illustrate the activities a child uses to piece together an understanding of the city-adjacent forest outside his high-rise apartment building. Starting with simple opposites ("My forest is tall. My forest is short"), the text ripens into a cascade of playful, well-chosen adjectives thoughtfully paired with images of the child observing the forest throughout the year, then working with different art materials to capture facets of his experience. Crayon rubbings show bark's roughness, sponged paint represents the softness of moss, and found rocks are transformed into turtles, frogs, and fish--"scattered and soggy, / and spotted and foggy." Each page offers gentle encouragement to get outside, observe carefully, and create joyfully. A jubilant assemblage of the child's creative work near the end shows that "my forest is so many things." Ages 3-7. (Apr.)