"He runs to the pond and calls out,
"What's new?"
"Winter is over!" Blackbird says,
landing on the cattails.
The cattails answer too. "We're
sending our seeds off in the wind.""
It's so good to see Daniel again. It's spring; he and Grandpa are meeting in the park next door for a grand time spent together. They are very happy to see each other. Grandpa is interested in knowing 'what's new?' Daniel has not done enough exploring to provide an answer. He knows what he must do to be able to share with his grandfather.
Off he goes. First, he visits his favorite rock. Rock explains that he is soaking up the welcome sunshine. He lets Rock know that he can whistle - pretty impressive. Hearing another distinct whistle from a redwing blackbird, Daniel is off to do more exploring. He finds the birds at the pond, and the cattails, and a mother duck and her ducklings. Wow! There is so much to see in spring.
The polliwogs are excited to be growing legs. Daniel explains that his legs are growing, too. Off he goes at a run! New leaves for the trees, new skin for the snake, new nest for Squirrel's babies, and a rest for a returning butterfly. Wow! He has so much to share now with Grandpa. He can't wait! Grandpa is duly impressed with all that Daniel has to report. All this is reported before Daniel wonders 'what's new?' for his much- loved companion.
As was the case in the first books about Daniel (Daniel's Good Day, Daniel Finds a Poem) the illustrations are quite remarkable. Done using acrylic inks and patterned collage papers, they hum with the beauty of the community, the park, and Daniel's adventures. His world is so bright and welcoming; Daniel is fully at home in the park with his grandpa close by.
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