The ABC Book of Seasons by Helen Martin and Judith Simpson
Ill. by Cheryl Orsini. ABC Books/ HarperCollins, 2014. ISBN
9780733331954.
'Season come . . . seasons go . . .sun shines . . .winds blow. . .rain falls. . .plants
grow'. As winter starts to take its grip on Australia once
again, this is a great book to help our youngest readers learn about
the seasons. Each season has its own group of pages that show
a range of familiar sights, colours and activities and concludes
with a question that draws the child into sharing their own ideas
and experiences.
It is also Australian with words and illustrations that are familiar
to our children. 'Autumn' is used rather than 'fall' and there are
beaches, barbecues, picnics and parks which will help the reader
connect with the story. Even though the winter snow scenes
might be new to many, the children that I shared this with were
quite tickled that here was a picture that they could really relate
to, given where we live. While many of them could describe just what
it feels like to be on a chairlift, it also started a conversation
about what winter was like in other parts of Australia. They
were fascinated that there were places where beaches and barbecues
were everyday things all year round!
While nonfiction books about the seasons abound, there are very few
that are as charming and appealing as this one for this age
group. The authors and illustrators have got it just right for
their target audience, and it is one that can be read and reread
throughout the year as the calendar and the planet turn.
Barbara Braxton