Anita Sanchez, illus. by Luisa Uribe. Clarion, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-358-38144-0
A poetic text delves into the intricacies of a puddle’s ecosystem in this buoyant picture book by Sanchez, which introduces a child who watches a local puddle over the seasons, observing its visitors, which include bats, birds, insects, mammals, plant life, and toads and tadpoles.
In-depth facts append each lyrical line: “Swallows loop the loop,” reads one spread, portraying four swallows sweeping around the puddle, which is surrounded by verdant plants. Smaller text beneath reads, “Barn swallows grab a beakful of mud. They’ll raise their babies in a dried-mud cradle.” Intricate, thin-lined spreads by Uribe clearly mark the changing seasons and weather in harmonious color palettes studded with sweetly stylized creatures. A curiosity-stoking exploration of the way even the smallest bodies of water sustain life.
Back matter includes an author’s note and suggestions on making one’s own puddles. Ages 4–7. (Mar.).