The Hidden Rainbow

by Christie Matheson (Author) Christie Matheson (Illustrator)

The Hidden Rainbow
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

All the colors of the rainbow are hidden in the garden, but can the little bee find them with help from the reader?

Christie Matheson, author of the popular and acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree, brings a garden to life in this bright, interactive picture book about the natural world and our place within it. One little bee peeks out on a world of gray and snow. She's looking for bright colors and needs you to help them grow. Bees need a healthy and colorful garden to survive. Luckily, all the colors of the rainbow are hidden in this garden but the bees need the reader's help to find them. Brush off the camellia tree, tickle the tulips, and even blow a kiss to the lilac tree.

With every action and turn of the page, a flower blooms and more bees are drawn to the feast. Christie Matheson is a master at creating simple picture books that encourage children to engage with the natural world.

In The Hidden Rainbow, Christie Matheson introduces the colors of the rainbow, counting, and the basic ecosystem and vocabulary of a garden. Beautiful collage-and-watercolor art captures all the bold colors of a garden throughout the seasons, and the interactive text will captivate young readers at every story time.

Select format:
Hardcover
$19.99

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--Told in rhyming couplets, this engaging concept book shows young children how people and bees can benefit each other. The seven colors of the rainbow are introduced as youngsters search for up to ten bees hidden in the cheerful, brightly-colored illustrations. "First, please brush the snow off the budding camellia trees," "point to the crocus shoots," and "blow a kiss to the lovely lilac trees" are instructions for readers. Trees, flowers, and shrubs are labeled throughout the book as a simple beginner plant identification guide. At one point, the story stops for a shower: "The bees don't like the rain, but it's important for the flowers." The book concludes with a brief informational section about bees and their activities. VERDICT Use this title with Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow and Jorey Hurley's Beehive for a charming and interactive story hour.--Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek P.L., WI

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Told in rhyming couplets, this engaging concept book shows young children how people and bees can benefit each other. . . . Search for up to ten bees hidden in the cheerful, brightly-colored illustrations. . . . A charming and interactive story."—School Library Journal
Christie Matheson
Christie Matheson is the author of Shelter and is also the author-illustrator of many picture books, including Tap the Magic Tree, Touch the Brightest Star, and Bird Watch. She lives in San Francisco with her family. Find her on Instagram at @christiematheson.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780062393418
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Greenwillow Books
Publication date
June 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002140 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Insects, Spiders, etc.
JUV009020 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Colors
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
Library of Congress categories
Stories in rhyme
Gardens
Color
Bees

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