(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sophie Diao. This lively picture book takes readers on an exploration of the Park to Playa Trail through Los Angeles. Each vignette opens with “My park to playa is...” and describes a different spot on the path where community members enjoy nature and the city together, observing wildlife, celebrating a birthday, and stargazing. Layered digital illustrations feature diverse groups of people and beautiful landscapes throughout the day. An author’s note and “Critters and curiosities” list encourage exploration of nature in readers’ own cities.

Reviewer:

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Litchfield. "Around the world, when morning comes...the sky glows." But it also glows at times beyond sunrise and sunset, as Beckerman explains in four-page sequences that build anticipation for each new example. A crowd of upturned faces wearing protective eyewear gives way to a double-page spread of the eerie glow just before a solar eclipse; a pair of hikers in the fading light of day walks into the stunning synchronized light show produced by fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main text, with its repeated refrain ("the sky glows") is brief and poetic, while longer secondary text in smaller type provides explanations of the featured phenomena, which include aurorae, rainbows, volcano eruptions, and city lights at night. Litchfield's arresting illustrations convincingly convey the look and feel of a glowing sky, through skillful use of warm yellows, reds, and oranges, and scattered star-like sparkles. A brief end note introduces the concept of light pollution, and a list of further reading is included.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022