Beginning

A father and child explore the many ways an ending can become a new beginning, both in daily life and in nature. Some examples are familiar, such as when a seed becomes a flower, an egg opens to a chick, and a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Some require more time, as when a peach is eaten and a tree can grow from its pit. The progressions become more personal when sunrise leads to pancakes, a walk takes the pair to a fanciful playground, and when new friends are introduced, making "alone" become "together." The illustrations suggest that the child's mother is not present, and spending time with a neighboring mother and daughter suggests a beginning of its own. A bedtime routine includes several more cycles, from bath to bed, from stories to dreams, from today to tomorrow. Graphite and digitally colored illustrations with a soft palette of blues, purples, yellows, and greens create a peaceful atmosphere that underscores the comforting message that each ending brings something new for the child to experience.

A picture-book exploration of endings and beginnings. Thomas uses nature to explore the topic. "The end of a seed is the beginning of a flower. // The end of an egg / is the beginning of a chick. // The end of a caterpillar / is the beginning of a butterfly." Thomas then moves on to more abstract ideas: "When a peach ends / a tree can begin." A parent and a child bury a peach pit--the seed for a new tree. From here, the book branches out to the experiences of a child's typical day. "When a sunrise ends pancakes begin! // A walk ends where the playground begins." Throughout the day, the child is taken on outings; when the sun sets, that means it's time to take a bath, don pajamas, and go to bed, with the promise of many tomorrows. "The end of today / is the beginning of tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow." Though taking on philosophical subject matter, this accessible, gracefully written tale uses tangible examples that will resonate with children. Castrillón's elegant, expressionistic digital artwork extends each example, using cool purple hues to depict a lush, slightly surreal world. Characters are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A gentle, winsome reminder that an ending is just an opportunity for a new start. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.