Mike Reed

Look for “signs” when “…Maples blushing/Rivers rushing — /Fall is here.” From autumn to winter, feel the change of seasons while reading these short, evocative, and beautifully illustrated poems.

Who is the Wild Waiyuuzee peeping out from the bush? Can she escape Shemama the Catcher? Readers will soon figure out that it is a child and her mother playing an imaginative game before the child’s hair is plaited. Rhythmic language and energetic illustrations create a warm book to be shared over and over.

Being small isn’t always easy, especially when growing up is associated with getting bigger. The pitfalls and pleasures of being a small fry is explored in a series of short poems accompanied by spirited illustrations.

Teachers and children alike will see everyday school activities and objects in a different way through each short, easy-to-read poem. From the front door to the most everyday object (a pencil), each poem has its own slightly offbeat take on things, echoed in equally wacky illustrations.