08/06/2018
Nature is a whirl of activity—“busy as busy can be,” renowned children’s book creator dePaola writes—when a scarf-clad grandfather (who resembles the author) goes walking in the park with two of his grandchildren. A dragonfly buzzes through the air, a frog jumps into the pond, the trees wave in a breeze, and the family’s dog is full of energy. But the grandfather has an idea: he asks the children to sit, “quiet and still,” on a bench with him. As the trio settles, the rest of the world seems to slow, too—and everything and everyone seems more alive and aware. “I can think, when I’m quiet,” the girl says. “I can see, when I’m still,” says the boy. Rendered in soft pastel tones and generous white space and using minimal, poetic text, the book itself embodies the beauty of quietude. DePaola reminds the reader that the great rush of life is not all it’s cracked up to be—and that pausing can open people, and moments, to wonder. Ages 4–8. Agent: Doug Whiteman, Whiteman Agency. (Oct.)
"A grandfather walks with two children, pointing out the busyness in nature around them.... Simple, straightforward, and effective, this book gently encourages children to find comfort in their own quiet moments."
"A grandfather, a girl, a boy, and their dog...out for a walk notice the busyness of the natural world around them... [then] all becomes calm, and the children notice the value of being quiet (“I can think, when I’m quiet”) and still (“I can see, when I’m still”).... [a] paean to the virtue of taking time out for reflection (and giving a grandpa a rest). Soft pastel shades, long gentle contours, and plenty of white space create a properly serene world to take in. Call to contemplation, or a grandpa trap? Well, why can’t it be both?"
"A grandfather walks with two children, pointing out the busyness in nature around them.... Simple, straightforward, and effective, this book gently encourages children to find comfort in their own quiet moments."
10/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—In a park one day, a girl, boy, and their grandfather enjoy observing the busy activities of the creatures around them. Birds hurry across the sky. Their dog chases a ball. A frog jumps and a dragonfly zooms. Even leaves on the trees are moving. So grandfather suggests they sit together quietly. Coincidentally, all the animals that were previously active pause as well. The birds sit on tree branches singing, the dog falls asleep, the frog just sits and blinks, and the dragonfly stops beating its wings. Soon both children come to appreciate the benefits of being quiet. DePaola's signature cartoon illustrations are done with transparent acrylics and colored pencils using a muted palette that aptly matches the story's theme: "To be quiet and still is a special thing." All the spreads are bordered in pastel green and contain fun details such as a parade of ladybugs walking across a leaf and animal activities below ground. White space greatly increases when animals and humans are at rest. Although the animals' cessation of activities just when the humans decide to do so seems somewhat contrived, the value of taking time to remain quiet is an important message to share with children. VERDICT Best shared one-on-one or as a small group mediation.—Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA
★ 2018-06-25
A white-bearded grandfather imparts his gentle wisdom to his grandchildren—a girl and a boy—as they meander through a placid green space. Together, the grandfather and children make note of the bustling natural world. The birds are flying, the dog is running; everyone seems to be in a hurry. The grandfather suggests that the children try another way of being with him, sitting quietly on a bench. The creatures around them respond to their stillness, also taking a moment to rest. As the book draws toward its close, each child is featured in a full-page portrait illustration, gazing out as they note what the quiet and stillness offers to them: "I can think, when I'm quiet. / I can see, when I'm still." It seems as though the prolific author and illustrator dePaola is speaking directly to readers on these pages, passing on his own insight. His signature illustration style is so simple that it feels fresh. Thick outlines separate individual shapes, and the muted palette epitomizes softness. A single white lotus floats in a small pond on the final page, perhaps paying homage to contemplative practices such as mindfulness that encourage making space for quiet reflection in our busy lives. Children and grandfather have light skin, the girl with straight black hair and the boy with a curly red mop.A lovely, simple reminder to pause and notice this life. (Picture book. 4-8)
