The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Messinger, Carla

When the Shadbush Blooms

32 pp. | Tricycle | September, 2007 | Trade ISBN 978-1-58246-192-2 $15.95

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden. With Susan Katz. This book highlights the seasons as experienced by the Lenape Indians. Each double-page spread shows traditional versus modern incarnations of such seasonal rituals as fishing and harvesting. The simile-heavy text is generally more poetic than informative. Some of the textured acrylic illustrations are static, though the use of light and shadow is effective. Information about the Lenape people is appended.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth