They Call Me River

"I begin as rain." Albrecht follows a narrating river from its origin to the ocean with simple, songlike writing and striking artwork. In its early meandering, it amuses itself as a child might: "I play with fish. Chase dragonflies." Then it gathers momentum, "twisting, spinning, splashing, roaring. I am wonderful and wild." The river hurtles through the countryside; becomes, briefly, a thundering flood; then passes a city on its way to the ocean, where the cycle starts again: "And then, drop by drop, I return to the sky." Mixed-media artwork combines patterned swatches in a single plane, producing dynamic tapestries of color and texture. Small humans seen by the riverside give a sense of scale, shrinking as the river grows larger and the view pulls back. The endless motion of the water creates a paradoxical sense of activity and calm, carrying readers along in its strong, steady current. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)