Love and hugs Spring

Spring arrives to the delight of friendly woodland creatures who eagerly welcome its signs. The changing season brings colorful buds, raindrops and puddles, and blooming flowers. Little readers will encounter descriptions and images of spring alongside the characters. The illustrations convey the joy of the season. All the critters are charming and adorable. Mouse is irresistible, poking out of the bottom of a tree, and Owl steals each scene with its rounded head and beady black eyes. Though they are largely expressionless, they nevertheless display curiosity, wonder, and playfulness through their body language and the book's text. Some images appear almost collagelike in texture thanks to the papery finish on the tree trunks and the gentle ridges on the leaves and grass. Other illustrations appear like delicate watercolors, especially the stunning blend of the rainbow's hues across a sky filled with raindrops. Plenty of lovely details await: Bumble Bee and Mouse staying dry under a hanging leaf, a chick snuggled in a tulip, Mouse catching drops of water in a cup for paintbrushes. A palette of pure pinks, yellows, and pale greens and blues captures the feeling of a world returning to life after a long winter. The book takes on a familiar topic, but it's elevated by the charming art. A lovely tribute to all things spring. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.