Little Pear Tree

PreS-K—Is this lovely oversize board book a concept book? A story? An interactive introduction to nature? Well, sort of. First and foremost it is an art book, showcasing Bowers's appealing graphic-, almost impressionistic, style paintings. In a mere six spreads, the book takes youngsters through the seasons and through the life cycle of a pear tree, from seedling to fully grown, fruit-bearing tree. Four or five flaps per spread introduce words and hidden naturalistic details, such as caterpillars, nests, spiders, and fawns. However, there is little sense of size or scale, which is potentially confusing. By the same token, the rhyming text offers little in the way of explanation or information. "As summer comes, the golden sun/ arise in the east./The little pear tree, filled with pride,/puts on its glorious feast." There is no time frame to indicate how long it takes for a little pear tree, "once a seed," to become "a home tonight" to birds and owls. This offering is as bright and ephemeral as a pear blossom.—Luann Toth, School Library Journal