From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5. Various aspects of mountain ecosystems in the western U.S., from "Avalanche" to "Mountain goats zip up the zigzagging trail" are explored in this alphabetically arranged book. Each page features a detailed painting along with a simple, somewhat alliterative text. Wildlife and plants are particularly well rendered in the pictures; each one features texture and line that give a sense of the stark beauty of the area. Value is used throughout to highlight the sunlight and shadows created by clouds, mountain shade, moving water, and shifting daylight. An author's foreword sets an appropriate tone for a "hike" through these ranges and an informational alphabet at the end describes the scenes in more detail. Along with Jean Craighead George's One Day in the Alpine Tundra (Crowell, 1984), Diane Siebert's Sierra (HarperCollins, 1991), and Ron Hirschi's One Day on Pika's Peak (Dodd, 1986; o.p.), this book will help young readers to explore this ecosystem. However, it can cause some confusion. For example, in the picture for the letter "d," along with the deer, daisies, and dandelions mentioned in the text, there are ducks, not mentioned, and also a spider web, some fungi on a fallen log, and a bear. In the list of alphabetized items at the end of the book, children learn that they were to have figured out "design" for the spider web, "dead fall" and "decomposing material" for the fungus on the log, and "digging bear," all of which stretch beyond the comprehension of most young ecologists. While this title provides a valuable resource, it will need adult intervention to help youngsters "read" the pictures so that they can get the most out of it.?Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
“Kiss is an established wildlife artist. His landscapes and animals are attractive and accurate…Kiss adds many features to his paintings that expand the usefulness, perhaps even the play value of the book.”
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Book Review Digest
“…[a] lavishly illustrated alphabet book…Wildlife artist Andrew Kiss offers 26 spectacular mountain perspectives. A real WOW!”
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Emergency Librarian
“The illustrations are magnificent and contain a wealth of information without being cluttered.”
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Canadian Children’s Literature
“Bold, rich colours and perspectives and lyrical language combine to create an exquisite experience… Andrew Kiss draws viewers inside the scene and transports them.”
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Resource Links
“The quality of the paintings and text could each stand alone…The love of wildlife and the outdoors is obvious in both the paintings and the text.”
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CM Magazine
“Kiss’s full-page paintings of mountain scenery are visually stunning.”
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Winnipeg Free Press
“Andrew Kiss’s paintings perfectly capture the majesty of the mountains.”
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Owen Sound Sunday Times
“A delightful, beautiful book…”
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Christian Library Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
