Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1356099 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 24 pages

From School Library Journal
reSchool-Grade 2-Off to school with her friends Henry and Zack, Lucy is enthralled by the newness of everything around her: the tender buds, the tightly curled ferns, and the blossoming flowers. As the animal youngsters arrive, the teacher is setting up for show-and-tell, and Lucy realizes that she forgot to bring anything from home. She panics when the teacher calls on her first, but Zack reminds her that her pockets are full of things she picked up on the walk to school. She shows the class her collection and the teacher is pleased. Brightly colored illustrations in springtime hues look as if they were painted with a sponge and a splash of exuberance. The ending is a bit syrupy, but overall the story is cheerful and pleasant, and will awaken young children to the signs of spring around them.
Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5-7. Some grown-ups may associate Fontes with movie tie-in books (based on such productions as Toy Story and Roger Rabbit), but she has also created a number of memorable original titles. This playful look at spring and its distracting effect centers on Lucy, a fashion-conscious mouse. Usually Lucy walks to school with chipmunk Henry and squirrel Zack. But one morning things feel different: spring is in the air. "Can't you smell it?" Lucy squeaks with delight. But her friends catch only the scent of frost and fur. Step by step, Lucy plucks signs of the season from her surroundings, waves them at her friends, and slips them into her pockets. So pleased is she with her discoveries that she forgets she's brought nothing for show-and-tell. "You brought plenty of somethings," Zack and Henry exclaim, pointing at her pockets. Children will feel the magic of friendship and spring in this good-natured story, with sweetly simple illustrations that glow with sunny colors. Kelly Halls
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

A wonderful little book after a long cold winter!
We found this book ...just as the daffodils and forsythia were starting to flower. My 3 yr old sons and I went on a treasure hunt for more signs of spring, without much luck. A couple weeks later, as the weather warmed, we tried again. This time, we pretended to be the characters in the book, Lucy, Henry and Zack. Like Lucy, I definitely get spring fever, so I was thrilled to lead them in their search for flower buds on trees and bushes, feathers, new grass, moss, and dandelion flowers.

"Signs of Spring" is a beautifully illustrated book, with forest animals as the main characters. It is a perfect introduction to spring and the changes occuring in nature for preschool age children. For the young elementary child, it might inspire a perfect show and tell presentation. And for everyone, it is a welcome reminder that no matter how long and dark and cold winter seems, the bright and fresh wonders of spring will always appear!