  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2018 PreS-Gr 2—Nature and patterns go hand in hand, as Barss and Stewart delightfully display throughout this young nonfiction choice. Within these pages are multiple levels of story. At the most primary level, the biggest display words on the page—if read sequentially—create a simple poem that spans the entire book. (These big words are the poem that is displayed on the first spread.) At a more complex level, Barss heightens those display words by relating them to a pattern in nature through lyrical prose. At yet another level, Stewart's beautifully muted illustrations are filled with patterns. At first, readers may notice simple line formations and polygons creating the bigger picture; but when they look closer, they may notice lightly-colored lines in the background that relate to the words on the page. Although the light lines are much more noticeable on the darker spreads, a close look will reveal them on each page. The illustrations are immersive and jammed with detail, encouraging readers to scrutinize and appreciate each page. The author's note at the back of the book delves more into patterns in nature and recommends a number of additional books about the topic for readers of all ages. VERDICT A good addition to any early nonfiction collection. An especially wonderful book to read aloud and discuss with young nature-lovers.—Kristin Unruh, Siersma Elementary School, Warren, MI - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/15/2018 Large, rhyming action words on each page—?twirl, whirl, swirl, grow, explore—will capture young readers’ attentions. Smaller, more detailed prose explains the concept of patterns in nature, specifically fractals and the Fibonacci sequence. Although Barss doesn’t specifically mention these terms, he provides numerous examples by describing the branches of a tree and the Milky Way galaxy. He then makes connections within nature, comparing, for example, tree branches to rivers and bronchial tubes, and spiraling galaxies to snail shells and pigtail plants. The author continues with even more discoveries as he tells how branching, whether of water or oxygen, indicates flowing, and that spiraling, whether in shells that spiral out or storms that spiral in, indicates growing or shrinking. Digitally enhanced silkscreen paintings feature children engaged with nature’s patterns and encourage readers to make their own discoveries. A concluding author’s note provides more information on different kinds of patterns. Pair with Sarah C. Campbell’s Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature? (2010) and Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature (2014) for a rich experience. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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