  | Picture the sky Author: Reid, Barbara | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
The sky can often tell different stories: in the clouds having a parade, in the stars blanketing the night, and in our imagination. Every hour, every day, in every season, the sky is different.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/15/19)
School Library Journal (03/01/19)
Booklist (02/15/19)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 02/15/2019 In this eye-catching companion book to Picture a Tree (2013), Reid speaks directly to viewers about the many ways of seeing the sky. It can be “the curtain rising on your day,” a broad expanse of blue in open country, or a sliver in the background beyond forest trees or big-city buildings. By day, the sky can display a parade of imagined figures in the clouds, and, at night, constellations inspired by mythological stories. Each page or double-page spread features a colorful illustration in Reid’s signature medium: modeling clay pressed into pictures and creating surprising effects of light, shadow, texture, and detail. Many of the images depict common childhood experiences, while others rely more on the imagination. Multiethnic casting increases their broad appeal. While the artwork sets the stage, the brief text leads children through the scenes in creative ways, at one point asking, “Did dinosaurs read the sky? Can snowmen? Can you?” A wonderfully open-ended picture book for reading aloud, it’s sure to lead children outdoors, or at least to the nearest window. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 03/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—Short, lyrical sentences ask readers to "Picture the sky" and invite them to imagine the various ways the sky can appear. The answers have an intriguing, riddle-like quality: the sky can be "the curtain rising on your day." Reid's trademark modelling clay artwork beautifully extends the text, showing a layered sunrise on the horizon brightening the early morning darkness as children wait to catch their school bus. The finely detailed illustrations seem almost tactile, bursting with color, pattern, and texture. Ever changing, the sky can be reticent and play hide-and-seek on foggy days and exuberantly say "Let's dance!" when the Northern Lights put on a show. Looking skyward, cloud watchers can observe "the passing parade," farmers can predict "a weather report," and astronomy buffs can "find a story" in the constellations. The final unifying sentiments invite reflection and participation: "Wherever we are, we share the same sky. It is the roof over our heads. Picture the sky. How do you feel?" VERDICT An excellent read-aloud, offering many extension possibilities.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont. - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
