Wondering Around

Encouraging readers to wonder “out the window,” “down a pathway,” “with a paddle,” and beyond, Fleming’s mixed rhymes braid themes of discovery and nature, while Jones’s acrylic and digital art employs chromatic, imaginative depictions that amplify the verse. A bespectacled brown-skinned child finds a bustling city of insects beneath a rock, complete with monuments, high-rises, and a school bus (“Wonder underneath things”). Elsewhere, gazing into a pond, a diminutive dog sees a lion staring back. Assorted habitats and seasons are on display, as children of varying abilities and skin tones swim, climb trees, and make nature-themed art, among other exploratory activities. When the closely related “wander” makes an appearance in the text, it’s a nod at the balance of interiority and exteriority that can lend a sense of intrigue to any outdoor jaunt. Ages up to 8. (May)