Carr, Jan. SPLISH, SPLASH, SPRING.  Illus by Dorothy Donohue.  New York:
    Holiday, 2001.  32p.  0-8234-1578-3; hb., $15.95.  PreS-Gr.2  E

    Bright cut paper collages show children enjoying spring wonders such as puddle
stomping, kite flying, and appreciating nature.  Teachers can use the collages as patterns
to create bulletin boards or to inspire children to create their own collages.  Young
readers will identify with the multicultural children pictured in the illustrations.  The text is in rhyme, “Hocus-pocus!/ There’s a crocus!/ Plucky petals/Brave the chill”   Learning about spring is a byproduct of this colorful picture book.  Purchase for day care centers,
schools, and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center

Jennings, Sharon.  FRANKLIN PLANTS A TREE.  Illus by Sean Jeffry, Mark Koren, and Jelena Sisic.  
    Based on a TV episode written by Sharon Jennings.  A Franklin Storybook series.  Based on characters 
    created by Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can, 2001.  32p. 
    1-55074-878-5 lib.bdg. $14.95      K-Gr. 3      E

    When Mr. Heron gave Franklin a sapling to plant he was disappointed because he thought it would be a tree big enough to put a tire swing in it.  On the way home, his sugar maple fell out of his wagon.  As Franklin traced his steps he saw his friends planting and watering their saplings and he was sorry he lost his tree so he went to Mr. Heron to see if he someone had returned it.  Librarians can read this book for either Earth Day, which is always celebrated April 22, or Arbor Day, which is most often celebrated the last Friday in April.  Michigan uses that formula.  For a state by state list of dates, check <www.arborday.org>  For more information about Earth Day check www.earthday.net/   This book fills a void on this topic in picture book format. Read this book aloud in April.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director; Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, Michigan

Minarik, Else Holmelund.  APRIL FOOLS!  Illus by Chris Hahner.  Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear series.  
    New York: HarperFestival, 2003. 20p.  0-694-01694-2; pb.,  $3.99   2002-105225     PreS      E

    Maurice Sendak illustrated the first “Little Bear” and friends for Minarik’s easy readers.  This title, illustrated by Hahner, is based on the animated television series, Little Bear.   Little Bear and his friends, Duck and Hen, try to think up an April’s Food trick but can’t come up with any.  When they get to Little Bear’s house, Mother Bear hides from them and pops out and says “April Fools!”  The trick is gentle and age appropriate.   The animals’ discussion of “nice tricks and not-very-nice tricks” is not exactly subtle but will be helpful to adults trying to make a point.  There is not a lot of fare about this holiday in picture books, especially for preschoolers, and this one is suitable.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director; Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, Michigan

Roop, Connie and Peter.  LET’S CELEBRATE EARTH DAY.  Illus by Gwen Connelly.
    Brookfield, CT:  Millbrook Press, 2001.  32p.  0-7613-1812-7; lib.bdg., $21.90.
    00-05663  Gr. 5-8  363.7

    Beginning with 11quotes and nature illustrations on the end papers, the watercolor
illustrations help readers understand the importance of our environment.  The quotes
begin with Chief Seattle and end with Rachel Carson.  The format of the book is
questions and answers; “What is Earth Day?” “What is an endangered species?” “Should
we protect every plant and animal?”  “What is a fossil fuel?” “What is global warming?”
There is a full-page experiment for recycling food to make compost and many other
short ways “one person CAN make a difference!”  Earth Day riddles and ecology facts
are interspersed to provide white space and variety.  This is a win for
school and public libraries as well as the earth.  Celebrate April 22 with this book.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center

Schnur, Steven.  SPRING: AN ALPHABET ACROSTIC.  Illus. by Lesliei Evans.
    New York: Clarion, 1999.  32p.  0-395-82269-6; hb., $15.00   PreS-Gr. 3    E

    Hand colored linoleum block prints add to the text in explaining signs of spring.  An acrostic means that each letter of a word provides the first letter of another word.  The first acrostic uses the word April to make this prose poem:
     "After days of
     Pouring
     Rain, the last
     Ice and snow finally
     Leave the earth."
The illustrations and acrostics are similar in Schnur's  AUTUMN (Clarion,1997 ).  Teachers will use both to provide examples for students to write their own acrostics.  These titles work as  picture books, alphabet books, nature books, poetry books, and as  puzzle books.  Highly recommended for home, school, and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center

Seuling, Barbara.  Newbold, Greg.   SPRING SONG.  San Diego: Gulliver/Harcourt,
    2001.   32p.    0-15-202317-8; hb., $16.00  99-6125    PreS-Gr. 3   E

    Spring in the mountains is shown in magnificent double page spreads created with acrylics.  The first set of double page spreads poses the question and the second set answers it.  There are questions about a bear, mole, skunk, bullfrogs, eagles, rabbits, cocoons, and people.  Groups or a leader can ask the question and listeners can answer the question in a call and response choral reading exercise.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI
 

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