Family walks when our kids were young were often cut short by the number of times Bret stopped to collect the rocks he needed to fill his pockets. He did not have a real passion for those rocks, he simply liked having their weight in his pants' pockets.
As this twosome sets out to walk the dog on a cool morning, the little one is delighted to find pinecone after pinecone. As she constantly stops to collect more and more, readers are privy to what is happening for her dad as he does his best to contain the dog's need for activity. The child is totally focused on the many pinecones she finds - and in awe of the tree that is awash with them. Dad is dragged hither and yon by the leashed dog who has no intention of spending time waiting while she fills her arms with more and more pinecones. After a minor mishap with a muddy puddle, Dad carries the writhing, shaking-off-the-mud dog home.
The child is busy naming each of the pinecones, while following close behind her father. Once home, Dad wrestles with the dog and the laundry, while the child heads outside again to fill her dad's boots with extended family members to her pinecone collection. Only now, does Dad have time to discover the collection in its entirety; including the bugs, worms, dirt, and everything else that entered the house while he was otherwise occupied. Quelle surprise!! Another is in store for the final spread when readers discover just how creative dads can be!
Mixed media artwork is warm and rich with details. Facial expressions bring total awareness to the feelings of each character.
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