(2) K-3 Over and Under series. Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. Messner and Neal add this trek in the canyonlands of the American West to their excellent series (beginning with Over and Under the Snow, rev. 1/12). A mother and child day-hike through a desert landscape. They observe the animals within a canyon; in the skies above it; in other open spaces; and underneath the rocks and sand. With rich and unusual hues, Neal's illustrations capture the feel of the desert heat, following the hikers' gazes as they swing back and forth to watch hawks and kestrels soaring high above, and geckos, sheep, and rabbits moving past them through the canyon and valley. The text starts at a leisurely pace, speeds up during dramatic interactions (such as between predators and prey), then settles back contentedly as the hikers rejoin Dad at camp. As night falls, the family (Mom's Black, Dad's white) continues to observe nocturnal animals. Several appended pages include more information on each of the observed species as well as a selection of additional resources.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. In their fourth collaboration (beginning with Over and Under the Snow, rev. 1/12), Messner and Neal explore a rainforest (the appended author's note indicates Costa Rica). This book follows the previous entries' pattern, as here a young child and adult companion hike into the rainforest, noticing what's overhead ("in the trees, oropendolas gurgle in low-swinging nests") and below ("leaf-cutter ants march in a line, carrying bits of leaves and petals back to their nest"). From a vantage point on a high hanging bridge, the pair can see several layers of the rainforest at once. They stand "eye to eye with capuchin monkeys," peer down at the bank where "sleepy crocodiles bask in the sun," and look high in the branches to watch "a soggy mother sloth and her baby sleep" through a sudden rainstorm. Lush mixed-media illustrations in shades of teal and violet vary in perspective, seamlessly shifting from sweeping aerial views to close-ups of animals, insects, and plants. When "the blue sky grows dark," the pair heads home, where Abuelita has supper waiting. Capturing the mysterious and magical beauty of the tropical biome, the book is sure to encourage further rainforest investigation. An author's note and accessible back matter provide more information about the rainforest and its inhabitants.

Reviewer: Emmie Stuart | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. From trees to bees to clouds, Moore urges readers to open their eyes to the inspiring life lessons offered by nature ("The moon shows me that even when I change, I am still me"). Although the motivational messaging sometimes feels slightly facile, Neal's gorgeous mixed-media and digital illustrations artfully depict various children and their caregivers enjoying the "wide and wonderful world out there, waiting."

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) PS Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. This accessible revisioning of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet 43" begins with the original two lines--"How do I love thee? / Let me count the ways"--then veers off into less conceptual, kid-friendly language. The joys of friendship replace the passion and romance of Browning's original as the appealing mixed-media illustrations show three friends romping across the pages and through the seasons. The final page reproduces Browning's sonnet.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. A mother and child paddle around a pond, noticing the creatures and plants that live there, both above the surface and underneath. Messner conveys the sights, sounds, and motions of a peaceful day spent enjoying and observing nature. Neal's mixed-media illustrations use mostly blues, browns, and pinks; his depictions of the plants and animals are realistic but play with the subtleties of water's movement. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. Messner and Neal (Over and Under the Snow) bring their above-and-below perspective to a garden's transformation from spring through autumn. Repetition of the title phrases and alternating visual perspectives portray a child and her gardener grandmother working above ground as worms and insects parallel their efforts below. Muted greens and browns provide tonal symmetry to illustrations teeming with life and underscore connections among organisms. Reading list.

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

(2) PS Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. This lyrical bedtime book follows various animals' evening activities; inside a house a young girl mimics their actions (e.g., hiding under her blankets like a bear in a log) before falling asleep. The book begins at dusk, the sky going from pink to blue to black and starry, the shadowy gray tones of the retro-looking illustrations a consummate match for the restful, rhyming text.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. The concept of quantity is cleverly examined in the context of animal lives. Schaefer presents the number of times an animal "performs one behavior" in its lifetime, starting with the single egg sac spun by a spider, up to the thousand babies carried by a male seahorse. Bold and beautifully composed, Neal's retro illustrations contain the actual number of items mentioned. Supplemental information is appended.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. An adult and child cross-country ski through a forest. They catch glimpses of animal activity below the snow in the crevasses that trap warmer air; above the snow, predators wait for signs of dinner. The subnivean zone and above-ground scenes are beautifully rendered through Messner’s spare, poetic words and Neal’s blockprint-looking mixed-media illustrations. Further details about the animals is appended. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012