Close as a Breath

A girl queries her father about her observations of the natural world in this board-book exploration of God's presence and the mysteries of faith. As father and daughter romp around in an idyllic autumn countryside, the girl asks, "Papa, why do leaves change?" Her father offers a somewhat scientific response: "When days shorten and air cools,/ some trees rest from making green./ But their leaves have other colors/ for a dazzling fall scene." Eventually, the Q&A session turns to God: "Papa, when I look at the stars will I find God's face?" Papa explains that even though God cannot be seen or grasped in a physical sense, "His love and His power/ are alive everywhere." Grant's (All of Me that You Can't See) sometimes rhyming text addresses important themes in a breezy, comforting tone, while Ackerley's airy scenes and simply lined figures provide an inviting backdrop for this family's pleasant outing. Up to age 7. (Feb.)