A Year with Friends

by John Seven, Jana Christy

Overview

February is time for snuggling . . . July is time for fireworks . . . This beautifully formatted picture book takes young readers through every month of the year as a little boy, girl, dog, and cat celebrate each month with unique, playful images that convey what makes it special. With gentle pastel illustrations in sequential panels, A Year with Friends teaches young readers about the seasons and the delightful ways they can be experienced with those you love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781613126134
Publisher:	Abrams, Harry N., Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	24 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	1 - 3 Years

About the Author

John and Jana are a husband and wife/author and illustrator team. Together they have self-published The Ocean Story and the upcoming A Rule is to Break: A Child's Guide to Anarchy. Jana Christy has also illustrated a handful of other titles including My Last Best Friend, published by Houghton Mifflin. They live in Boston.

Editorial Reviews

This cheerful tour of the months of the year pairs Christy's airy artwork with simple sentences that introduce seasonal activities. The spreads offer silent mini-narratives that unfold in varying numbers of panels, with whimsical thematic images encircling each scene. Images of muddy footprints and handprints form a border for the April spread ("April is time to get messy"), while the main panels show a dark-haired boy making a running leap into a mud puddle, with joyfully explosive results. In February, "time for snuggling," a cat delivers a valentine to the same boy, seen reading under the covers of his bed, while in May ("time for flowers"), a red-headed girl and her dog plant seeds, which blossom into quite the garden. Rather than mentioning specific holidays by name, the book hints at festive occasions-"July is time for fireworks"; "October is time for tricks and treats"-keeping the emphasis on the generous, sociable, and downright fun things friends do together. Christy's illustrations provide humor, energy, and entertainment with year-round appeal. Ages 3-6.
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Publishers Weekly

PreS-K—A beautiful, fun, and minimalist journey through the seasons. Each month is accompanied by soft illustrations of children enjoying the treasures it brings, e.g., February is "time for snuggling," June is "time for bugs," and July is "time for fireworks." The format is varied, with panels, spreads, and full-page pictures, and the art is delightful. Youngsters are sure to take pleasure in following the characters' activities throughout the year. Great for a lap read, or for a lesson on the months or seasons.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA

School Library Journal

While lots of books about seasons are available, this one is as fresh and crisp as a cool fall breeze. Each month is jauntily illustrated with a two-page spread of panels and one pertinent line: "January is time for rolling down hills"; "February is time for snuggling." A boy and a girl (both Caucasian) alternate in the scenes from January through July up to August, when they meet at the beach, build a sand castle and become friends for the remaining months. "April is time to get messy" is depicted with the boy in a yellow slicker and red boots jumping in a puddle. In July, the girl carries popcorn and a blanket as she and her dog walk to a grassy spot to watch fireworks. The narrative ends: "A new year is time for fun with new friends!" The charm is in the narrative's simplicity and the breezy, soft-edged artwork that captures the special wonder of each month. There are lots of ideas for displays and monthly themes for storytimes. This expressive childhood tribute to the joys of nature throughout the year warmly conveys the message that anytime is best when shared with a friend. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews