HELLO, WORLD

Prompted by his bear—“Wake up, Baby. Let’s go and see the world”—a young child ventures out at dawn, inviting families of cats, dogs, ducks, and frogs as he goes, promising warm rocks to rest on, trees to climb, and other comforts. They arrive at last on a hilltop—where, in a magnificent double gatefold, he and his companions look up at the moon and stars, which gaze back. Foreman’s lambent, diaphanous colors have never shown to better effect; as he sends bear and child, both about the same size, strolling hand in hand through grassy, peaceful natural settings, the day’s light shifts through subtle tones of orange, blue, and yellow to a deep twilight. The short, rhythmic text makes a perfect match. Beautiful. (Picture book. 3-6)