Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Over a hill and through a rose lane, a strawberry field, a marsh meadow, and a bushy vale are just a few of the places a group of sweet-faced, dot-eyed animal friends spot natural cordiform-shaped marvels in this appreciation of the great outdoors. After a map opens, readers are invited to join the critters' nature walk--and perhaps undertake one of their own--with the beginning words: "The world is full of little hearts./ Each one a sign of love.// Some are found upon the ground./ Some are up above." In a series of brief rhyming lines that sustain an air of wonder, Ghigna describes the animals' exploration of their surroundings, high and low: "See the swans out on the lake/ Swimming in the sun.// Two of them together make/ A little heart of one." Strawberries, a ladybug, a four-leaf clover, and "a sweet bouquet of butterflies" appear as appropriately shaped treasures discovered in East's pastel, softly sunlit paintings. It's a shape-centric wander with hearts at its heart. Ages 3--6. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--This warmly illustrated picture book is about a community of animals who find hearts wherever they go. "Little seashells on the shore./ Some look like a heart!/ Each leaf upon the redbud tree/ Looks like a work of art!" In scenes that look like watercolors and with a map that easily recalls the Hundred Acre Wood, every spread shows a different natural setting with multiple heart shapes waiting to be identified by young readers. The rhyming text uses sensory images to help readers develop a deeper connection to the text. The sweetly rendered images of animals finding hearts in different places would be a lovely way to hunt-and-find a child's way to sleep, but this book could also go along on a classroom nature walk. VERDICT This pretty "find the shape" book will find fans with very young readers.--Debbie Tanner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Love and hearts are all around. Just stop and look. Gentle rhymes and illustrations with the look of soft watercolors primarily in pastel colors are a perfect fit for this sensitive exploration of nature. Four animal friends--a fox, a bear, a rabbit, and a wild piglet--visit the woods, the shore, the meadow, and a farmer's field to find a world "full of little hearts. / Each one a sign of love." The book's endpapers contain maps to help readers trace the friends' journey, and a dotted line on the back endpaper map charts the quartet's path. Hearts abound in this tale--strawberries, seashells, and ladybugs all resemble the shape--as do sensory references (the "smell of roses in the air," "Puffy clouds go drifting by, / Oh what a dreamy sight!"). The friends also discover pairs of birds snuggled up to create a heart shape, a spider who spins a heart-shaped web, and butterflies flying off in a heart-shaped group. Alliteration and simple, elegant rhymes ("A sweet bouquet of butterflies. / We wave as they depart") create a pleasing melody and fun read-aloud. Little ones will eagerly snuggle up to enjoy this with a cherished caregiver; it also makes a wonderful option for a small-group storytime to allow close inspection of the illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A joyful friendship tale begging to be read on Valentine's Day or before a thoughtful nature walk or even a nap. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
