Toshi's Little Treasures

After receiving a backpack from his grandmother, a boy named Toshi accompanies her on walks through the forest, countryside, park, and more, during which they find numerous tiny "treasures" to collect. After each scene, children see a close-up of a dozen found objects (a riverside jaunt nets Toshi a crayfish claw, dragonfly wing, and fishing lure), which Robert asks readers to match with larger associated objects (a crayfish, dragonfly, and willow tree, in this case). Aki's understated images quietly highlight the pleasures of outdoor sojourns (not to mention spending time with one's elders). Given an ending that has Grandma tracking down her old childhood notebook, where she catalogued her own collected items, it's a book that almost begs to be bought alongside a backpack and notebook for readers' future collecting excursions. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)

PreS-K--A walk through any landscape with a small child can be a wondrous thing. A branch, an insect wing, a shard of pottery, and a soda can tab all become objects of fascination. In this book, Toshi receives a bright red backpack from Grandma, to hold all the things he gathers on their walks. The two stroll along a river, into town, and in the forest, among other locales. Each place is presented on a spread and is filled with small, carefully labeled items that a child might pick up. Conversations on these pages are limited to a statement and response--often Grandma identifying an object or one or the other making an observation. A page of larger images of the labeled "treasures" follows for children to match with something on an opposite page: for example, a gingko leaf pairs with a tree, a tuft of wool with a sheep, and so on. The book ends with pictures of other "Little (and Big)" things and animals that Grandma and readers may have noticed on these walks and additional, occasionally useful, information on some of the items they have spotted. Charming, delicate line-and-watercolor art against white pages features flat expanses of color denoting walkways, water, and seasonal foliage and loads of items to scout. VERDICT The stop, look, and identify character of the book echoes the leisurely, exploratory nature of the duo's walks and engenders repeat visits.--Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal