  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 05/01/2013 Wendy and her family—including Abby, the cat—often take walks along Rambling Road to see what they can see. While Mama observes nature through her binoculars and baby Abe sits atop Papa’s shoulders, young Wendy carries a “collecting bag” to gather treasures she finds: an old bell from a bicycle, a small American flag, a penny, a pencil, a clock that doesn’t work. Her understanding parents make sure she really, really needs each piece of ribbon and string (she does) before letting her bring the items home. The family walks in nice weather, in rain, and even when the snow comes. But when it’s too cold to go out, Wendy constructs her own Rambling Road in her bedroom, arranging found objects to re-create the walk for her family. Best uses a fun refrain throughout (“When we go walking on rambling road . . .”) and taps into a subject that should interest many children who love to keep an eye out for special things. Brooker’s signature paint-and-collage illustrations brim with details, and her pigtailed girl exudes happiness and curiosity. A reminder to appreciate the small moments in life. - Copyright 2013 Booklist. School Library Journal - 07/01/2013 PreS-Gr 1—Family members, including a tabby cat, keep their eyes peeled for small treasures as they take a daily stroll in this lyrical picture book that just begs to be read aloud. "When we go walking on Rambling Road,/bikers bike, runners run, scooters scoot,/and finders find." Five-year-old Wendy is the real scavenger in the family and she never knows what will catch her eye and make it into her collecting bag-a beach ball, an old kite, an American flag, a snow shovel. Baby Abe calls out the colors he sees, and their nature-loving Mama spots birds, squirrels, and turtles with her binoculars. When it gets too snowy to walk outside, Wendy does something unique with her findings and invites her family into her own personal Rambling Road. Best's engaging text is complemented by Brooker's collage illustrations that are full of details for readers to pore over. This cheerful story will inspire children to look for treasures of their own.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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