THE MAGIC IN A YEAR

A young girl celebrates the months and seasons of the year.

“Every year has months and seasons. / I love each for different reasons. / Turn the page and you will see / what makes each month special to me.” The pale-skinned brunette with rosy cheeks starts her ode with January’s ice and snow, but it quickly goes off the rails, as several of the months do not describe things she loves: “February / has rain and ice. / When that thaws out / it’s always nice.” And March’s springtime breezes sometimes give her sneezes. Temperature seems to be the biggest differentiator among the months, and the only holiday that makes an appearance is Halloween. After December, a final stanza mentions the seasons and the titular magic of a year; the illustration is recycled from the January spread. While the bright colors and scratchy feel of the seemingly digital artwork will attract readers, kids may be mystified as to why the girl’s otherwise peach-colored face (and the dog’s yellow one) has white splotches. While in some cases it might be construed as highlights from strong sunlight, that’s not always the case. The final spread is the text of Sara Coleridge’s “The Garden Year,” the author’s inspiration.

Readers would be better served by simply going outside to experience the seasons themselves.