We are in the dog days of summer, but back to school is quickly approaching. That means the change of seasons. Have you ever noticed each season has its own special wonders? Today we are sharing a beautiful picture book sharing some of the curiosities of each season and more. The book is Wonder: A Song of the Seasons by Julia Key and illustrated by Helen Cann. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
Wonder is a beautifully illustrated rhyming picture book that aims to heighten awareness of and interest in the natural world. The reader is invited to follow and share in the adventure of two young girls who cycle together from dawn to dusk, passing through an unfolding series of landscapes representing the cycle of the seasons. Through the text and illustrations, we get a glimpse of the world through the eyes of a child, and an encouragement to stop and look—indeed to use all of our senses to appreciate and fully engage with nature. The book also seeks to capture something of the mystery and magic of creation.Wonder offers a true visual feast to children and adults alike, thanks to its captivating and intricate illustrations by award-winning artist Helen Cann. It is also an auditory feast — it is designed to be read aloud, with a musical quality and soothing repetitive rhythms that are sure to appeal to young ears.
Julia Key is a first-time children’s author, poet, and lifelong lover of words whose work is inspired by the beauty and intricacy of nature. She has worked as a translator, editor, and teacher to young and old alike. Julia is passionate about helping children to discover, respect, and protect the natural world around them. She loves to use words—and poetry especially—to capture something of the mystery and miracle of creation. Julia lives in Sheffield, among the green hills of the Peak District, in the north of England.
Helen Cann is an illustrator, painter, mapmaker, and hand letterer. She has illustrated more than thirty books, including the award-winning For Every Little Thing, Hand-Drawn Maps, and Feathers for Peacock. Her work has appeared in exhibitions around the world, has featured as props for film and television, and is commissioned for business logos and branding. Helen’s book illustrations are mainly hand produced using watercolor, collage, and graphite. She lives and works in her sunny seaside studio in Brighton, in the south of England.
From Me:
This book follows two girls of different races on a bike ride. The girls ride through nature through all four seasons. The lyrical words ask wonder questions like "Who conducts the dawn chorus from high in the sky? Paints the colors of morning and blows the page dry?" It questions hearing the bluebells ring and looking at the world through the dragonfly wings. The words are full of beautiful natural wonders and the illustrations are gorgeous.
What wonders do you notice each season. Autumn is approaching and the color of the leaves is a big one but so are the birds flying south and so much more. I love that this book glorifies the beauty of the natural world. It is the type of book that will encourage readers, kids and adults, to get outside and notice the beauty of the world. The words remind me of things I tried to get Hazel to notice each season and things I tried to slow down and notice myself. Needless to say, I love this book and hope it will be read to every child! It makes a great back to school gift for the classroom as well.
