Laura Dronzek

A girl tells readers about the birds she sees around her, describing size and color in spare, almost lyrical language. Richly colored paintings accompany the text to enhance and build the concepts presented in the narrative.

Remember “the middle of Fall, when the leaves have already turned” and the air is chilly, apples and pumpkins are ready to pick. Soon, the leaves will be gone and the sky will change again, filled with snowflakes. Lyrical language and richly hued paintings evoke the season and the changes that accompany it.

A child wonders as she wanders on the beach while visiting grandparents. Lush, textured illustrations echo and expand the child’s musings on a glorious day. Husband and wife creators capture this joy-filled experience.  

Poetic language introduces a moonlit evening when “Moonlight slides like butter”, touching sleeping rabbit, “butters Rabbit’s dreams/…/shakes him out of bed…” to dance in the field. Darkly hued illustrations touched by butter yellow evoke the gentle night and its wonder.

Rabbit’s generosity sets off a chain of events that brings his kindness full circle. The lush and accessible acrylic paintings suggest the Chinese folktale upon which the retelling is based. A note at the end supports the notion of universal truth in folktales.

Can the youngest chick solve the problem and help the family get to their tasty meal of potato bugs and beans? Of course, for only she can run tippy-toe around the fierce — but leashed — dog! Young children will appreciate the youngest chick’s success in this brightly illustrated tale.

When is “pink for crow…”? When it has “just hatched from its egg.” Vibrant, uncluttered paintings accompany the straightforward text to explore different ways of looking at things and prove that blueberries can be white!

Winter brings with snow, clinging to branches, “crouching in doorways,” and settles “softly, so softly.” It is followed by signs of an approaching season … spring! Gentle language and textured, boldly lined illustrations present another season by an award-winning husband/wife team.