Seasons

With an emphasis on taste, smell, and outdoor activity, Crausaz guides readers through the seasons of the year in this understated and evocative French import. Crisp, delicate digital artwork set against mostly plain backgrounds keeps the focus on the freckled, rosy-cheeked girl who peeks through a cherry tree's branches in spring ("It's cherry time. Are they as sweet as last year's?"), plays in the sand of a beach come summer, and enjoys "one last taste of snowflakes" before winter turns back to spring. Exuding an overall serenity, the book should have children seeking out the sights, smells, and sounds of the passing seasons. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)