Celebrate poetry all year long with Julie Fogliano’s wondrous When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons (Neal Porter, $18.99). Tomato-red endpapers trumpet the arrival of thoughtful and playful poems that are sprinkled with touches of humor and are accompanied by Julie Morstad’s gently resonating gouache-and-pencil-crayon images. As the seasons unfold, double-page spreads invite the eye to follow along bands of color representing everything from a dock extending into the water to an endless stretch of sea. “Taste the sunshine” of a spring day, escape a “day that drips hot and thick like honey,” and anticipate “waiting for sweaters” and “winter’s white furry hat” with this very special collection. Ages 5-8.
In a fresh retelling of Aesop’s fable about City Mouse and Country Mouse, award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie employs an adroit text peppered with onomatopoeia. Vibrant double-page spreads portray the solitude of the country and the faster pace of the city. Each mouse discovers where his heart lies and where he feels safe: Mousetropolis (Holiday House, $16.95) is home for City Mouse, but not for Country Mouse. Messages abound between the words and pictures in this soon-to-be classic. Ages 4-8
Forgo the electronic devices and secure one of the most irresistible puzzle books of the season. Hiro Kamigaki and IC4DESIGN’s intricate, spellbinding labyrinths are investigated by Pierre the Maze Detective (Laurence King, $19.95). Helpful instructions, an inviting cast of characters, and an intriguing narrative written by Chihiro Maruyama and translated by Emma Sakamiya complement the fifteen detailed, full-page spreads. At the conclusion of this challenging book, an epilogue and an answer key provide additional satisfaction to young detectives and their adult sidekicks. Ages 8-11
