It's Springtime in My Backyard
by Kathy Mazur: Story, photography and illustrations
Published by Spring Ducks Books
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Reviewed by Lou Pilgrim Cherry
A wildlife story for young children involves a pair of mallard ducks who visit the author's daughter during nesting season.
Lauren, age 7, tells the tale clearly on CD after her mother photographs an interaction that is built on patience and developing trust. My favorites are sequences of Lauren gaining the hen duck Molly's confidence while feeding her. The color contrasts, facial expressions and composition are great. Anyone struggling to preserve precious moments with child OR animal will marvel that Kathy accomplishes BOTH! The watercolors of a child at play and rest add pizzazz; the umbrella and puddle drew a chuckle!
The 26-page view of Lauren's relationship with hen, Molly, and drake, Moe, is followed by two pages of Duck Facts; simple vocabulary includes only a few challenges (iridescent is defined, but camouflage and vegetation are not.) Kathy adds 13 bird, animal, plant and flower photos that readers may find in their own neighborhood.
Springtime fills a science need in schools wonderfully, especially for urban dwellers who may not be exposed to feathered fowl.
A colleague who works with children with vision problems said she "liked that real photos are used, larger type on white background and in the same location!" Words are printed in blue, with green and even larger font size used to emphasize significant words.
Springtime lends itself to story-time reading for groups and will appeal to all ages and levels, including adults.
I recommend it to educators and librarians as a learning tool and to parents and relatives as a gift to treasure.
Armchair Interviews says: This nature book about establishing relationships is one to read again and again, with a CD that allows independent looking and listening.