A playful book evokes the seasons, beginning with fall, and, as nature changes, centers on family life. From watching geese, to the long wait for snow, to the snowman wearing the tie of Daddy's that Mommy hates, the text is full of fetching details and enlivened with one-liners. ``We look like a department store,'' Kelley says, bundling into layers for winter. And every season, someone in the family says, ``This is my favorite time of year.'' Nobody ever grumbles that it's too hot, too cold or that yard work is tedious; the glimpses of annual rites are what count here. A simple, clear idea, and Wallner's beautifully unified design and illustrations add an old-fashioned, never sentimental charm to a book for all seasons. Ages 4-8. (March) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Ages 5-8. It's autumn, the season for jumping in piles of leaves and drinking hot cocoa. When Halloween comes, jack-o'-lanterns appear on steps. For Kelly, it's her favorite time of year. But then comes December, bringing Christmas and gobs of snow, good for making snowmen and for sledding. Without hesitation Kelly says that's her favorite time of year. In the spring crocuses' noses poke out of the ground and leaves appear as lacy green mist on the trees. Kelly explains to her little brother that spring means it won't take so long to help him dress. That's one reason she likes it. Yet who can resist summer with its warm sunny days and dreamy nights? Beaches and barbecues add to the fun. There's no doubt about it, summer is Kelly's favorite time of year. Filled with joyous detail, this sweetly happy book is never saccharine, just filled with a true appreciation of the rhythm of the seasons. The watercolor artwork, bright without being overpowering, features cozy family scenes focused around a delightful Victorian-style house. A warm, imaginative picture book that adds affectionate dimension to a familiar topic. IC. Seasons-Fiction / Family life-Fiction [CIP] 87-45296

In the fall, Kelly, Mommy, and baby Patrick play with the colorful leaves, outdoors and in; and as the neighborhood buttons up for winter, Kelly decides that fall is her favorite time of year. But she likes all the seasons--making snowmen, sledding, seeing crocuses poke their heads through the snow, swimming at the beach, spitting watermelon seeds--and contentedly declares each in turn to be her favorite. Wallner's carefully designed illustrations picture a stylized, cozy suburban world; thin borders give the illusion of snapshots capturing memorable moments. A nice addition to books on the seasons. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.