(4) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Swan. Pearson balances scientific detail and sensory description to imagine the lifespan of the world's tallest tree, a coast redwood. Forest sounds both natural ("creak!") and unnatural ("whir!") abound. Though jarringly slick, Swan's digital collages capture the textures of the dense forest; readers may particularly enjoy spotting the semi-hidden wildlife throughout. Back matter includes redwood facts that expand on the poetic text. Bib.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Swan. Spring has sprung, so Miss Ava brings her class to explore a farm, where the kids take note of opposites, which are bolded in the text. The fourth of the author-illustrator team's season-themed picture books offers more festive rhymes (some can be a mouthful) and engaging multi-patterned illustrations in a sunshiny palette.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Swan. In another seasonal concept celebration by this team (Cheers for a Dozen Ears) a family visits the local maple sugar farm to watch Mr. Sweet boil sap before they all eat pancakes at his farmhouse. Each spread features one or two colors (e.g., "pink cheeks," "silver pail," "amber syrup") that are highlighted in the festive but lumbering rhymes and pleasing collage-like illustrations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Swan. This concept book from the author-illustrator team of Pick a Circle, Gather Squares is a cheerful introduction to numbers and counting. Two siblings and their mother visit a local farm stand, where their shopping starts with one watermelon and ends with twelve ears of corn. The rhymes can be a mouthful, but the colorful digital illustrations successfully convey a summertime mood.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Swan. A trip to the pumpkin patch turns into a harvesting of another sort as a father and his children invite readers to look for shapes along the way. The rhyming text, though sometimes forced, is celebratory, and the (busy-looking) digitally enhanced collages burst with autumn colors and rich texture. A festive addition to a seasonal collection.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Swan. The book opens with a magnificent mixed-media illustration showing a volcanic vent gushing steam, rock, and lava. The author then confronts a common misconception: "Volcanoes are not just destructive. Much more often, volcanoes are creative." Profiles of eight volcanoes illustrate her point. Each spread includes one sentence in large type that provides general information; smaller-type paragraphs provide detailed background. Reading list. Bib., glos.

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

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Swan. Modeled on "Over in the Meadow," this rhyming verse introduces prairie wildlife, covering animals such as pronghorn, rattlesnake, and sharp-tailed grouse. Valuable back matter expands information about flora and fauna, carefully separating fact from fiction by pointing out which species of animals do not care for their young. Though busy, the mixed-media art provides a good sense of prairie ecology.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Swan. The concept of "fall" as a description of what happens in autumn is stretched to its limit, encompassing not just what leaves and temperatures do but also what football players do (they "fall / into the end zone"), etc. Some references are clever, others are a reach, but all are gloriously depicted in mixed-media collages that capitalize on the season's colors.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Celebrate the Seasons! series. Illustrated by Susan Swan. In this celebration of summer, a loosely rhyming text, occasionally lacking in rhythm, expounds on the joys of summer. A young girl takes advantage of what nature has to offer in the warm months: catching fireflies, experiencing thunderstorms, and watching plants grow taller than she is. Colorful and dimensional art bursts with activity. Suggestions for nature activities are included.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(4) K-3 Celebrate the Seasons! series. Illustrated by Susan Swan. A boy explores the natural world around him and discovers all of the classic signs of spring. Poetic text highlights the sights, sounds, and smells of the season, but lacks the drama and energy necessary to sustain interest. Bright cut-paper collage illustrations extend the text. A list of simple nature activities is included.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Celebrate the Seasons! series. Illustrated by Susan Swan. Cheerful cut-paper collage illustrations enliven this third installment in a series celebrating the seasons. Typical characteristics of winter such as cold and snow receive more than ample coverage; more interesting is the brief review of winter's effects on animal habitat. Meandering free verse with occasional rhyme lacks consistency and rhythm. A list of suggested nature activities is appended.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 I Love the Seasons! series. Illustrated by Susan Swan. Glaser's poetic text celebrates the sights, sounds, and activities of fall: jumping in leaves, watching animals prepare for winter, and planting bulbs for next spring. Though it's distracting that the text rhymes only intermittently and even then often just vaguely, Swan's cut-paper illustrations are bursting with color and movement, reminding us that even autumn is full of life. Seasonal activity ideas are appended.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Swan. Eleven poems tell about animal dads who take care of their offspring. Each poem is accompanied by a cut-paper illustration. A section at the end of the book contains color photographs and explains the biological role of each animal father. The typeface is difficult to read and some of the verse is awkward, but the focus on animal fathers is novel and intriguing.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Swan. The rainforest animals make lots of different sounds, but they all become quiet whenever they hear the jungle drum. The sounds are intriguing, but young listeners may wonder who's drumming and why. While sometimes unclear, the cut-paper illustrations are appealingly textured. In a minor error, the text refers to a jaguar, but the pictures show a black leopard.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander