(2) K-3 With a poetic text and sharp, uncluttered photographs, the Sayres examine transitions in the natural world--transitions from physical spaces as well as those between states of being. The initial double-page spread sets the stage: "Every creature / on earth / at times / finds / itself / in / between." A stark white background encourages scrutiny of the accompanying photograph of three chicks, "in between" birth and maturity, lined up in a nest located inside the V of two intersecting rafters. Other spreads, composed of two, three, or four images, create similar tableaux with layers of meaning; text placement expands the viewing experience. The authors gradually introduce synonyms; readers see a pair of birds with eyes just about closed, "almost asleep, / but not yet"; and see a duckling flapping its wings, as "in the meanwhiles" it grows stronger. Ideal for a group read-aloud, this book encourages discussion of personal "in betweens."

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) PS Photographs by April Pulley Sayre & Jeff Sayre. This book describes a day in the life of a Panamanian sloth (in reality, per the acknowledgments, a composite of eight years of expeditions and of two separate species) in a poem of joyful observations of the sloth and many other inhabitants, friendly and fearsome, of the forest canopy. In the midst of all the action rests the title creature--photographed in bright and crisp detail--leisurely drying its fur, scratching its back, chomping on leaves ("a tree is sloth salad"), and surveying the activity of others. The late Sayre's (Being Frog, rev. 1/20; Cityscape, rev. 7/20) rhymes capture the contrasts between the other busy animals and the resting sloth: "Swish, swish! / Howlers hop. / Monkeys shake / the leafy ocean. / Branches rise and fall. / The sloth sways with the motion." The well-designed layout balances stanzas in white spaces alongside, atop, or opposite the impressive images. More detailed information about topics such as sloth behavior, eating and digestion, and survival are found in color panels in the margins of the layouts, as well as in an appended "Sloth Science" spread.

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

(3) PS Illustrated by Kasia Bogdańska . "Seagulls swerve. / Seagulls soar. / Yack! Yack! Yack! / from ship to shore." With short rhyming lines somewhat reminiscent of rocking waves, Sayre follows gulls from ocean to desert to dump; informative back matter explains that "seagull is a common name for many species of birds in the family ­Laridae" and that some spend more time near water than others--but they are all survivors, adapting to changing ­conditions and habitats. Digital illustrations capture the variety of landscapes (and seascapes, and lakescapes) visited by gulls.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) PS A green frog moves through its woodland environment, its motions described in short rhyming sentences that match the pace of the creature as it hunts, crawls, jumps, or remains motionless ("It climbs a cliff. / Mossy. Steep. / It sits so still. / Then, suddenly-- / LEAP!"). The pairing of Sayre's poems with her photographs is seamless. The pictures are skillfully composed, using light and depth of focus to center attention on frog facial expressions or positions, or to show how well the frogs use water, rocks, and foliage as camouflage. Often with one or both eyes seemingly looking directly at the viewer, the frog--and Sayre's poem--invite readers to contemplate their sentience. "A frog / is a being. / It is watching. / It is seeing... / Does it ponder? / We don't yet know." In an end note, Sayre (Woodpecker Wham!, rev. 5/15; Warbler Wave, rev. 3/18) explains her enduring relationship with the frogs in this book (who live in her local pond) and explains the differences between her subjective observations and scientific study. Recommendations for additional resources, including an app that plays frog sounds, are included.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) PS Immersive photographs (most taken by the author) pull viewers into the experience of a foggy day in Sayre's latest weather-focused title (Raindrops Roll and others). The large-format pictures invite viewers to explore how weather interacts with animals, plants, and natural landscapes. Sayre's fog obscures and reveals, with many monochromatic white and gray pages showing just how much the fog can transform outdoor objects and creatures (a yellow bird, for example) and inviting viewers to lean in closely to see what they're looking at and what may be hidden. But while the pictures steal the show, Sayre's poetic language creates a mood and a rhythm while leaving plenty of room for listeners to feel like they are making their own discoveries. A back-matter spread succinctly answers many of the questions that children may ask while reading, such as, "Why does fog feel cold?" The book ends by telling readers that fog "limits what you can see, but it can expand what you imagine"--the latter of which could easily describe Sayre's book.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(2) PS Sayre (Warbler Wave, rev. 3/18; Being Frog, rev. 1/20) has a knack for pairing minimalist poetry with dramatic photographs. Here she turns her attention to urban settings where "science, math, art / live side by side." Juxtaposing different buildings, bridges, sculptures, and vehicles, Sayre's eye-catching spreads (with most photos taken by her) showcase lines, curves, angles, and shapes in striking compositions. A vertically oriented rectilinear skyscraper, for example, is positioned beside an angular shot of a different one. Both buildings function as mirrors, and they're joined by the couplet: "Clouds paint pictures as they pass. / Reflections warp in window glass." Here and elsewhere, personification, alliteration, and rhyme feature in Sayre's succinct verse. Throughout the book, Sayre also plays with perspective. On one page, there's a close-up of spiral sea fossils in a building's rock wall. On another, viewers peer, from above, at a kayaker in a triangle-tipped vessel. Sayre hits cities on a few different continents--with the Louvre, Machu Picchu, and a Chicago Art Institute lion all making appearances. She also makes room for whimsy: case in point, a curvy Oscar Mayer Wienermobile crosses a suspension bridge. In a final "Explore the City" section, Sayre encourages viewers to get outside and look around, but they may find her "Questions to Ponder As You Wander" a bit challenging (e.g., "What is a heat island?").

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez. Sayre steers kids toward understanding and getting the most out of the powerful tool of question-asking. Beginning with the basic "why ask questions?" ("They help you get information"), the brief main text introduces different types of questions, how and when to ask them, and what a question is not. With their energetic cartoon vibe, Hernandez's illustrations, featuring a diverse classroom of inquisitive kids, will draw readers in to this valuable communication lesson. The bottom line for posing questions to anyone: think before you ask.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(3) K-3 It's spring, and everything is fresh and growing: "Seeds sprout. / Stems pop out." Each set of short rhyming couplets, on facing pages, precedes the refrain--"Bloom, boom!"--on the following double-page spread. Clear, vibrant photography and a large trim size brings spring's flowers to life. Includes notes on the featured flora. Websites.

Reviewer: Meredith Madyda

(3) K-3 Stunning photographs accompany the poetic but precise text in this picture book encouraging gratitude for our beautiful and intricate planet and everything thereon--from tiny ladybugs to towering trees. Sayre also highlights "all shapes that repeat" and "rays and radials," which may send readers out to look for patterns and shapes in nature. Back matter explores eco-issues and encourages kids to get involved.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) PS With Jeff Sayre. This science picture book, featuring spectacular photographs and spare, precise text, focuses on the migrating group of tiny birds called warblers. The poetic text mirrors the birds' flight patterns: very short rhyming lines ("They search. Stalk. / Wag. Walk") are contained within the one long poem. Readers can closely observe bird activity in the photographs, and the pages are skillfully laid out to guide the eye. Websites.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) K-3 A companion to Raindrops Roll and Best in Snow, this title showcases the beauty of autumn leaves. Simple poetry and magnificent photographs, both close-ups and wide shots, follow the progression of deciduous leaves turning gold, red, and orange; to falling leaves; to decomposition as winter arrives. Short paragraphs at the back explain the botanical science behind the changes. Reading list.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. This book, a tribute to the attribute of slowness, presents multiple examples of occurrences that embrace a slow pace: growth of sequoia trees, formation of coral reefs, geological and biological growth and decay, and movement of sloths and snails. Inquisitive readers will appreciate the witty tone as well as the wealth of fascinating trivia. Cartoon-style drawings add humor and energy. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 In brief, simple poetic phrases (sometimes only two words per page) and stunning photos, Sayre celebrates snow in its many forms. Forest animals make appearances, but it is the exquisite close-up pictures of frost, snowflakes, and ice that steal the show. Teachers should gladly add this companion to Raindrops Roll to their science/nature and poetry units. Further information is included at book's end. Reading list.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Gray, fox, red, and flying squirrels are the subject of the latest book from this talented duo. Lively rhyming text describes the active creatures, while the paper-collage art shows them climbing, stretching, and peeking out from the pages. Additional information on squirrels and the trees they depend on renders the book useful for report writing as well as storytime. Reading list.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(2) PS Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Rhyming, onomatopoeic text introduces the woodpecker and the cadences of its industrious life: "Wedge it. Sledge it. / Wham by wham. / Clear those chips. / SLAM, SLAM, SLAM!" Cut- and torn-paper collages provide action-filled perspectives on the birds' activities and capture intricacies of each species' markings. Additional information about anatomy, behaviors, and ways people can observe and protect these birds is appended. Reading list.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(3) K-3 Captivating photos picture an oncoming storm, followed by shots of raindrops in various stages, configurations, and contexts, such as on a katydid's back or splashing into a stream. Sayre subtly explains the nuances of these appearances in minimal poetic phrases that use alliteration, onomatopoeia, and occasional rhyme and that closely follow the photographs. Scientific information about rain, the water cycle, and more is appended. Reading list.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. In a comfortingly repetitive, cadenced text ("Can you hunt like a bear? / It's June. Find food. / But where?"), direct questions ask readers not only if they can eat but also search, gather, climb, and even bathe like a brown bear. Jenkins's torn-paper illustrations are reproduced with such clarity that one can almost grasp the thick, fuzzy fur of the bear.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(3) PS "Keen for quinoa? / Wild for rice. / Buckwheat. Barley. / Time to spice!" Using spare, pumped-up rhymes, Sayre introduces seeds, nuts, grains, beans, and spices in this companion to Rah, Rah, Radishes! and Go, Go, Grapes!. Varying arrangements of the foods in the close-up color photos add visual interest. An appended note explains more about seeds and their uses.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Sayre's text thoughtfully follows a year in the life of a female humpback whale, from the birth of her calf through her spring northward migration and back to Caribbean waters for winter. In addition to the narration on the right-hand pages, spreads contain paragraphs of further explanation on the left. Hogan's cool-toned pencil and pastel illustrations represent the underwater light well.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) PS In this companion to Rah, Rah, Radishes!, bouncy rhymes are paired with colorful fruit photos ranging from the usual suspects to those that will elicit "What's that?" responses from both child and adult readers (e.g., rambutans, mangosteens). The simple text identifies the produce shown in attractive farmer's market settings. Appended "Fruit for Thought" further encourages enjoyment of the subject.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey