cover image The Song of Spring

The Song of Spring

Hendrik Jonas. Prestel Junior, $12.95 (48p) ISBN 978-3-7913-7379-9

All of the birds are singing their spring songs to “attract some friends” (“When Mr. Blackbird sings the ‘blackbird song,’ Mrs. Blackbird comes flying by”). But for one little bird with spiky head feathers, spring sounds come out as a “woof.” A friendly dog answers back and encourages the bird—“Have another go”—but the bird’s attempts to sing result in an “oink,” a “moo,” a “meow,” a “meh,” and a “hee-haw,” along with visits from the corresponding animals. Jonas renders the animals with expressive eyes, streaky color lines, and collage elements. Along with the cast of kind barnyard animals, readers will enthusiastically take part in this gentle readaloud, in which the work of finding one’s voice can also mean finding friends. Ages 2–up. [em](Mar.) [/em]