Patterns, Patterns Everywhere

PreS-Gr 1–Patterns from the jungle to the ocean to the night sky and everywhere in between are featured in this attractive picture book. Rhyming couplets and lush watercolor illustrations effectively show the concept, but readers don’t get an explanation of what patterns are until the back matter. Appearing there is a definition as well as more information on the appearance of patterns in math, nature, music, and art. Children will enjoy pointing out the colorful details in the illustrations, from stripes to polka dots; these are found on animals, clothing, and works of art. Repeating readings are inevitable because there is always more to discover on the pages. The more opaque information (“I see patterns in the way we learn and the ways we act”) may require explanation, but children will invariably come away with real curiosity for the patterns in their everyday life. The people in the illustrations are diverse in color, ability, and size.