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Thursday, May 31, 2018

All The Animals Where I Live, by Philip C. Stead. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2018. $26.99 ages 5 and up

"There are a lot of animals
where I live.
But the most important one
is my dog. Her name is
Wednesday.
Wednesday is not from here.
She is from the pound in
Baltimore.
Wednesday has lived a lot of
places, but this place is her
favorite."

If you are a fan of Philip C. Stead's work you will have met Wednesday in a past book, Ideas Are All Around. This time, he shares his thoughts on living in a rural setting after living in the city. As he did in that previous book, he invites readers on a bit a a journey through the neighborhood. He is very content with this new life and, in sharing it with readers, it leads him to visit memories of his "Grandma Jane".

"If my Grandma Jane had been an animal
she would have been a hummingbird -

flitting and buzzing and always busy,
gathering fluff and knitting it into a comfortable nest."

His grandmother loved nature and animals and would very much enjoy a visit with his family in their new environs. Wednesday also loves where they are living now. There is much to see and to hear, and to consider as one day moves on to the next.

"At night it is quiet.
But only until you listen.
There are a lot of little things playing their music in the moonlight.
Then the coyote howls, and nothing moves."

Seasons come and go. Wednesday watches, listens and protects as best she can.

This is a peaceful meditative journey with an artist who sees wonder in the natural world, and shares it in details that are sure to engage and delight those who also love the feeling of calm in memories and observations shared.
                                                                   

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