Toshi’s Little Treasures

After receiving a backpack from his grandmother, a boy named Toshi accompanies her on walks through the forest, countryside, park, and more, during which they find numerous tiny “treasures” to collect. After each scene, children see a close-up of a dozen found objects (a riverside jaunt nets Toshi a crayfish claw, dragonfly wing, and fishing lure), which Robert asks readers to match with larger associated objects (a crayfish, dragonfly, and willow tree, in this case). Aki’s understated images quietly highlight the pleasures of outdoor sojourns (not to mention spending time with one’s elders). Given an ending that has Grandma tracking down her old childhood notebook, where she catalogued her own collected items, it’s a book that almost begs to be bought alongside a backpack and notebook for readers’ future collecting excursions. Ages 3–7. (Apr.)