(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford. Flowers, birds, and small creatures abound--even in the shadows of tall buildings and bus stops--in this poetic celebration of nature in the city. The detailed digital-collage illustrations beg readers to slow down and ponder their bright colors and small intricacies, while short poems exalt familiar sights such as raccoons, pigeons, and even the gardener-maligned dandelion. Wildlife facts are appended. Reading list.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler