Treasures of the Seasons

Pittmann, J.V. (2015). Treasures of the Seasons. Eden 3000, Inc.

Children's Illustrated / Poetry / Nature

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Treasures of the Seasons is a wonderful compilation of stunning illustrations, fun poems, and even some craft projects, all focusing on the "exciting adventures of childhood" found in each of the four seasons. Children will be drawn to the vibrant colors of the illustrations, as well as the reflections on everything from bugs to the magic of the wind.  J.V. Pittmann hits on the major joys and wonders of each season, all presented from the child's perspective, which will delight children and adults alike.

In Treasures of the Seasons, Pittmann uses interesting effects on the photographs, so that they feel almost like pop art and images feel surreal -- I am surprised that one of those illustrations wasn't used for the cover art. Though the enhanced photographs were my favorite illustrations, the drawings were also excellent (absolutely gorgeous, magical illustration with the poem "Winter") and really depicted the topics in the poems; children will definitely spend time studying the illustrations as they read and re-read the poems.

Pittmann's descriptive writing and use of figurative language really bring the poems to life in a manner to which kids will relate -- for example, saying a snail "shell-hides" is the perfect way to describe how snails disappear into their shells. "After Rain" delightfully captures the world when it's wet, and the informality of the rhyme will bring smiles.

The three craft projects provide a nice break from the poetry and will appeal to kids. Adults will likely need to supervise the crafts, as the directions may be a bit overwhelming for younger readers. Treasures of the Seasons will encourage readers to slow down and enjoy the miracles of nature, while also showing the fun of colorful, creative language. It could be an excellent springboard for kids to try writing their own poetry of the seasons.

There were a few minor errors and some interesting uses of the apostrophe, but they didn't interfere with the story. I would recommend this as a read-aloud for younger kids and on up to fifth grade.

This book was reviewed for Readers' Favorite, who provided an eBook in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.