One Wide Sky: A Bedtime Lullaby

Publishers Weekly

The expansive summer sky that hangs over an idyllic backyard may get the title mention, but the real stars of this outdoor counting book are two young squirrels that appear in every spread (and who are referenced only once, as "two sleepyheads" near the end of the text). They cavort, observe, scavenge and stay a few steps ahead of a trio of boys and a mother, while Wiles (Love, Ruby Lavender) enumerates the backyard's charms forward and backward in rhyming couplets: "Nine clovers for a crown./ Ten whirligigs spinning round./ Nine shadows butter the yard./ Eight fence posts standing guard." Bowers's (the Little Whistle series) velvety oils chronicle the changing summer light as it deepens to a starry indigo. At the same time, he seamlessly blends detailed, heightened realism (seven sandbox dump trucks look as if they've been marooned in mounds of sugar) with subtly anthropomorphized comedy (the squirrels sport Chip and Dale-like expressions, and one beams a proud smile as it exhibits a nearly unbroken bread crust discarded by one of the children). The visual and verbal elements weave together all the components into a kind of sunlit tapestry: a clover garland made by a child in late afternoon transforms into a goodnight gift for the human mother, just as the squirrels' booty becomes a late night snack shared with the mother. A fitting tribute to the pleasures of a perfect day. Ages 2-5. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

From the hugable cover illustration clear through to its end, this comforting bedtime lullaby will hold you in its grasp. Written in the form of a circle tale, the story runs from the opening page of "One wide sky" to the ending page with similar text. In between, two bushy tailed squirrels going about their daily business and three boys preparing to camp out in their backyard tent provide fun-filled entertainment. Daytime and nighttime themes play a subtle part, too. Basically a counting story, the text builds up to ten in the middle and back down to one at the end. Clouds, songbirds, feathers, dump trucks, bumblebees, and clovers are just some of the objects woven into the count. When "shadows butter the yard" and "fence posts stand guard" the reader knows all is well. This book is one that calls for reading again and again, and the simple rhyming text will be easily repeated after a few times. Delightful illustrations present new views with each read. Pick up this book and read it with a youngster. You will be glad you did. 2003, Gulliver Books/Harcourt,
— Nancy Garhan Attebury

School Library Journal

PreS-Two young squirrels gather food while three children prepare for backyard camping. Verses count objects from 1 to 10, and then back down again, with no music included for this "lullaby." Full-spread oils on canvas show a green, woodsy area from a variety of angles. Some of the objects to be counted are very small, and not all of them are immediately or easily identified. Some items are partially off the page, and in one line readers will have to use their imagination to find three kisses. Much better counting books and bedtime stories are available.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A backyard comes alive as outdoor adventures of the human and animal inhabitants unfold side by side, then slowly wind down at nightfall. A personable family of squirrels peeks out to see new treats being poured into the bird feeder and tied to their tree. Scrambling for their share of the bounty, they become aware that they are not the only ones in the yard that day. The human inhabitants celebrate the sunny day with a picnic. Deciding to continue the day outdoors, they begin to set up a tent and string some lanterns. As the squirrels look on, the human mother kisses her sons goodnight and offers them a bowl of popcorn while the lucky squirrels return to their nest, paws full of apple cores and scavenged popcorn, picnic leavings, and bird seed. After counting up to "Nine clovers for a crown. Ten whirligigs spinning round," the day counts down to a close. "Three kisses soft and sweet. Two sleepyheads off to sleep. Under one big sky." Rich oil paintings illustrate the beautiful things suitable for counting in this quiet (and sometimes funny) look at nature. (Picture book. 2-5)