In Between

Striking wildlife photography pairs with poetic lines in this ode to fleeting in-betweenness. From a robin landing to a hare mid-jump to chipmunks playfully wrestling, full-bleed photos by the late Pulley Sayre focus sharply on their subjects—amphibian, avian, insect, and mammalian alike—as they fly, splash, hide, and more while enduring the often uncomfortable experience of “almost.” Embracing alliteration and rhyme, narration gestures toward the universal as it meaningfully labels critters “in between/ holding tight// and letting go.” In an underwater shot, a juvenile frog lingers just below the surface: “Nice new knees,/ but still not leaping.” As examples build, patience and persistence are emphasized as necessary aspects of growth and change—experiences that the text reassuringly suggests unite all living things. Gesturing toward kinship with nature, the creative team supportively captures complicated feelings of being on the cusp. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)