Picture book review: Seasons by Anne Crausaz

Seasons
written and illustrated by Anne Crausaz
Reading level: Baby-Preschool (and up)
Publisher: Kane/Miller
Date published: March 2011
ISBN-10: 161067006X, ISBN-13: 978-1610670067

My rating: 4.5/5 stars

Seasons will encourage children to see the joy in the natural world, to truly take in all the sensory experiences nature has to offer, and will remind adults of that joy.

Crausaz’s lean text reads almost like poetry. It is evocative; in just short sentences, she reminds us of our many senses and the way that we can enjoy nature–by seeing the green of springtime, smelling the blossoms, hearing the birds sing, feeling the tickle of a ladybug, tasting a sweet cherry. Crausaz’s text is very tactile. She reminds us of the simple beauty and magic of the world (fireflies, leaves to jump in), and encourages us to enjoy it. Crauzaz takes us from spring through all the seasons, and then back into spring again.

Crausaz, through beautifully spare, stylized art, shows us the beauty of nature, and the ways that we can interact with it. The leaves and flowers look almost like cut-outs, and are often repeated in patterns on the page. Only a few colors are used in each spread–red, green, some yellows and browns appearing most often–yet nothing feels like it’s missing. A young girl appears in many–but not all–of the spreads; nature is big and bright in the pages, and draws the reader’s attention.

Seasons can help introduce the outside world in a way that is soothing and cheering; it will encourage young and old to get out in nature and enjoy its beauty. Highly recommended.

Source: Review copy from publisher

March 31st, 2011