Sun shines on a patch of snow.
Hocus pocus!
Where did it go?
Winter turns to spring in this lyrical book that celebrates the magic of nature and the changing seasons. Eleven gatefolds open to re-create the excitement and surprise of spring's arrival, revealing what happens when snow melts, trees bud, flowers bloom, birds arrive, and eggs and cocoons hatch. Finally, it's warm enough to pack away winter clothes and go out and play!
January 1, 2016
Rhymes, magic words, and gatefolds celebrate the transformations of spring. "Sunshine warms a patch of snow. / Hocus-pocus! // Where did it go?" A mother rabbit with four kits snuggled beside her looks out at a snowy clearing; with the opening of the gatefold, the kits have woken up, the snow in front of their den has largely melted, and green shoots stipple the brown earth. In the next tableau, one of the shoots becomes a crocus watched over by a smiling mole. Pussy willows emerge, leaves appear, birds build nests and lay eggs, and fruit trees bloom. While at times O'Brien needs to stretch for her magic words and phrases ("alizebu" is quite obscure, and the negative connotations of "mumbo jumbo" are unfortunate), her rhymes and scansion never falter. Gal choreographs the progression smoothly, taking readers from early spring to the lushness of summer. The only sequential misstep is in taking the book back to early spring in the penultimate tableau with the discarding of winter boots--children who've seen the advancing spring phenomena in the preceding pages will have mentally stowed theirs much earlier. Gal combines charcoal and digital collage for a beautifully smudgy look, and details charm: on close inspection, a fly's transparent wing displays a paisley pattern. The final tableau features a multiethnic group of children playing among all the "bright new things." Another lovely, if imperfect, book for the spring shelf. (Picture book. 2-5)
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March 1, 2016
PreS-Like magic, the seasons change. White snow melts away into green grass. Bare tree limbs are suddenly dotted with buds. Abracadabra! Alakazam! Winter has transformed magically into spring! Isn't it amazing? O'Brien and Gal use delightful rhymes and brilliant illustrations to take readers on a magical journey of seasonal changes. Crocuses appear! Birds begin building a nest for their eggs. Those eggs hatch into excited chicks. The starkness of winter suddenly comes to life with an abundance of colors and sounds. Along with the illustrations and rhymes, the layout of the book encourages exploration. Text appears on one page, but in order to find out what the magic words have wrought, readers must unfold the pages. This picture book would be an excellent addition to collections and a great choice for a storytime themed around the seasons. VERDICT An excellent purchase.-Paige Garrison, Augusta Richmond County Library System, GA
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2016
The arrival of spring, with its flowers, budding trees, baby birds, and butterflies, is celebrated with magic words (alakazam, presto chango) and gatefolds that open to show what the magic has wrought. Simple rhymes tell the story: "A silent sky, / then birds come winging. / Mumbo jumbo! / Noisy singing!" Vibrant, full-bleed mixed-media illustrations enhance the joy and the transformations.
(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)