MARTIN, Helen & Judith Simpson (text) Cheryl Orsini (illus.) The ABC Book of Seasons ABC, 2014 unpaged $19.99 ISBN 9780733331954 SCIS 1648884
This simple picture book about the seasons is the latest title in a series. The book begins and ends with the four seasons depicted in an oval diagram with arrows and illustrations showing the progression from summer to autumn to winter to spring. The contents then devote two pages to each season interspersed with something that happens in any season, such as rain and wind.
The illustrations show people and animals doing ordinary everyday activities typical of each season. These include going to the beach in summer, picking pumpkins in autumn, throwing snowballs in winter and seeing baby animals in spring.
By the very nature of the simple text and illustrations, this is a book for the very young to introduce them to the concept of the different seasons using familiar activities and scenes. The colours, design and layout are attractive and the stylised people do show a variety of skin tones and facial features.
reviewed by Lynne Babbage