A Closer Look

With a visual guessing game as the premise, McCarthy's first book for children challenges youngsters to look at nature through the lens of graphic design. “Look!” she writes, introducing a series of three seemingly abstract images. “What do you... [turn the page] see?” Over these several pages, she zooms out to reveal a more complete picture. Simple shapes or lines (e.g., a black circle centered on a russet field) become part of the ingenious patterning that distinguishes a ladybug, the petals of a cardinal flower, or throat and wings of a hummingbird. The final image, a vibrant garden, shows each of the starring objects in proper perspective, and underscores the point that nature teems with intricate, elegant designs. McCarthy's handmade-paper collages make striking use of the bold lines and dramatic colors that preschoolers like. Despite their beauty, however, the compositions are static, a problem exacerbated by the repeated use of the same text and page breaks throughout the book. Readers are apt to nod along dutifully, but the book feels more like an attractive lesson plan rather than a voyage of discovery. Ages 2-5. (Sept.)