The seasons of Parastoo

Parastoo, a child whose name means "swallow bird" in Farsi, loves the swallows that live in the tree outside her window--"They are the bluest blue she's ever seen, like a little piece of the sky." In mixed-media paintings, Kheiriyeh (This Baby. That Baby.) shows Parastoo and her mother gazing at the birds darting and swooping outside. In the summer, the birds fly among the blooming flowers, and in the autumn, they head south. So does Parastoo's mother, a nurse who travels to the border to care for soldiers. The swallows and Parastoo's mom will be back in the spring, so Parastoo makes a calendar and checks the days off to help the time pass more quickly, and her grandparents think of amusements to ease the period of longing. In spreads tinged with electric hues, the wind seems to always be blowing; autumn leaves dance, the ribbon on Parastoo's mother's hat flies, and, as Parastoo and her grandfather work on a project, their scarves wave. In every season, the beautiful blue that Parastoo loves appears somewhere in the artwork. Waiting is difficult, but the swallows always return--and so does Parastoo's mother, in this loving meditation on the progression of seasons and missing a loved one. Ages 3--7. (Aug.)

A young girl is enchanted by the beautiful blue swallows outside her window. Parastoo loves to watch the birds, which look like "a little piece of the sky." In summer, she admires them from her mother's lap as they dart among the pink, orange, and yellow blossoms. In autumn, she's unhappy that the birds fly away. Her mother explains that they migrate south, where it's warmer, and her grandmother reassures her that they will return. Soon, Parastoo's mother, a nurse, must leave for the border. Parastoo's grandparents step up to take care of her. In her dreams, Parastoo flies with the swallows to visit her mother and to see the important work she's doing treating injured soldiers. Her grandfather encourages her to make birdhouses for the swallows' arrival in the spring. Spring comes, but the birds don't, and Parastoo worries they've lost their way. But soon she's heartened by the chirping of the swallows and the long-awaited arrival of her mother. Bright, dynamic illustrations feature blue and orange motifs throughout, lending the book a feeling of vibrancy even in moments of sadness. The passing of the seasons parallels the separation of mother and daughter, and moments of melancholy are enlivened by hope. Characters are brown-skinned, and though geographic locations aren't specified, the book's dedication hints at an Iranian setting. A rich story that urges readers to hold on to hope. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.