Darren Lebeuf Libri

A girl’s poetic exploration of the ocean she loves. “This is my ocean,” the young girl begins as she heads over the dunes with her mother. Then, passing the day at the seaside, she lyrically describes her ocean in simple, sensory detail. It is both “slimy” and “sandy,” “sparkly” and “dull.” It has wonderful sounds, as it “splashes and crashes and echoes and squawks.” And there are so many colors, from “rusted orange” to “polished green.” Though “mostly it’s blue.” Nothing escapes the girl’s careful observations. And at day’s end, she can’t wait to for her next trip to the beach. This enchanting nature companion will awaken the explorer in every child.

A young girl, who is visually impaired, finds much to celebrate as she explores the city she loves.A young girl and her father spend a day in the city, her city, traveling to the places they go together: the playground, the community garden, the market, an outdoor concert. As they do, the girl describes what she senses in precise, poetic detail. Her city, she says, “rushes and stops, and waits and goes.” It “pitters and patters, and drips and drains.” It “echoes” and “trills,” and is both “smelly” and “sweet.” Her city also speaks, as it “dings and dongs, and rattles and roars.” And sometimes, maybe even some of the best times, it just listens.

A boy explores his urban forest, then interprets it through his art. With art supplies in tow, a young boy meanders through the forest near his home. A keen observer, the boy sees his forest as both “fluffy” and “prickly,” and as both “crispy” and “soft.” It’s also “scattered and soggy, and spotted and foggy.” His forest is made up of many colors — but he decides that “mostly it’s green.” Each aspect of the forest inspires a different kind of art: charcoal rubbing, rock art, photography, sponge painting, snow sculpture, cut-paper collage. With every new day in the forest, there’s a new way to capture it! Such a delightful nature companion is sure to awaken the artist in every child.