Tisha and the blossoms

PreS-Gr 2--It seems like Tisha always needs to hurry. She's got to hurry up to catch the school bus, hurry up and finish her book so she can get to assembly, and hurry from recess to get to lunch. It's exhausting and too much. Exasperated, she asks her mother if they can slow down, and thus begins a winding walk home, full of observations, games, and relaxed cuddles on a park bench while watching the birds. The sensory tour continues once they get home and Tisha's father joins them for a picnic under the blossoming trees. They savor every bite ("crunch[ing] the cucumbers" and "chew[ing] the cheese") and every moment. Meddour uses gentle dialogue and winsome description to dial the story, and its early frantic pages, back down into a soothing tone and cadence where this tranquil family interaction can bloom. Egnéus's illustrations are lush, and include a variety of perspectives and points of view, including a delicious scene of Tisha nose-to-nose with a ladybug. Combine that with eye-popping spreads festooned with blossoming trees that evoke all the meandering wonder and play this little protagonist desires, and his work here is downright honor worthy. The father appears white, with brown hair, while Tisha and her mother present as Asian. VERDICT In a world full of hurry up, this title encourages children and their adults to slow down and catch the blossoms. Recommended for public and school libraries.--Jennifer Noonan

A young girl models mindfulness as she savors each moment. This charming and vibrant picture book opens in Tisha's backyard, where she is reaching skyward as falling blossoms float toward her. Her joy and anticipation are disrupted by a series of "hurry up" commands from those around her, who prod her to rush for the school bus, attend an assembly, and make sure that she doesn't miss lunch. The externally imposed directions conflict with Tisha's natural curiosity, which compels her not only to "listen to the sounds" and to count the spots on a ladybug she finds during recess, but also to create connections between a book she finds about space and the space shuttle she imagines but cannot finish drawing because "it's time to put the crayons away." When Tisha requests "a little slowdown," she and Mommy decide to walk home and play "How Many?" along the way; they also snuggle on a park bench and name all the pigeons. What began as a harried day ends on an idyllic note with a family picnic under flowering trees; when the wind blows, Tisha can catch a blossom at last. Artful and striking illustrations produce a multitude of visual textures that delineate individual blooms, sketch Tisha's neighborhood, render colorful yet subtle details of characters and clothing, and deliver painterly impressions. Tisha and her family are tan-skinned with dark hair; her classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet reminder to pause and ponder life's everyday wonders. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.