Round Hardcover – Picture Book, September 29, 2020
by Jennifer Ward (Author), Lisa Congdon (Illustrator)
Publisher : Beach Lane Books;
Illustrated edition (September 29, 2020)
Hardcover : 48 pages
From award-winning author Jennifer Ward and celebrated artist Lisa Congdon in her debut picture book comes a lyrical, rhyming exploration of the many round things that can be found in nature.
Nature all around is round…
Take a spin through the seasons in this thoughtful and meditative picture book that explores roundness in the natural world. There are round birds’ nests and eggs in the spring, round raindrops falling from the sky in the summer, round apples filling the trees in the fall, and round snowflakes covering the ground in winter—and so much more! Little ones will love this stunning read-aloud that is certain to intrigue and inspire them to start looking all around outside for things that are round.
Editorial Reviews
A rhyming glimpse at round shapes in nature.
“Nature all around is round,” begins this exploration of shapes round or partially round in nature, beginning with a tiny bird and ending with the planets in our solar system. The pair of two-word phrases in each illustration, each dyad ending with “round,” rhymes: “Glowing round. / Growing round,” reads the text in a spread that features fireflies encased in rings of lights and a crescent moon. In a spread featuring a frog, the creature hangs on tight to a lily pad caught on a small current (“Cling round”) and then jumps into the water, creating ripples in the water that “Ring round.” Some pairings will prompt discussion more than others, such as an empty nest that is “Nest round,” paired with a nest filled with bird eggs that is “Best round.” — Kirkus Reviews ― July 15, 2020
Prefaced by a Neil deGrasse Tyson quote about the lack of sharp angles in nature, this environmental picture book’s front matter includes a brief introductory author’s note describing the science behind the text. While roundness in nature may not be represented in perfect spheres, Ward explains, it can be found everywhere: “in the lobe of a leaf and the smoothness of a stone, in the curl of a wave and the coil of a shell.” “Nature all around is round…” the spare text begins. “Silent round,” reads one verso page depicting a light blue-gray hare in a round-mouthed cave; “Violent round,” reads its recto, which shows a storm with distended-spherical raindrops. “Nest round./ Best round” attends a nest without and with eggs, respectively, perhaps prompting discussion, while “Twirling round./ Swirling round” accompanies a leaf with rounded edges and a variety of leaves spiraling in the wind. Artist Congdon, in her picture book debut, offers close-ups of flora and fauna in a vibrantly colored and multitextural, hand-stamped style. A simple science primer for the youngest readers. Ages 3–8. (Sept.) — Publishers Weekly ― October 26, 2020
Review
With rhyming text and stunning illustrations, our pre-school reader was mesmerized. Ward and Congdon have created a beautiful book which leads readers to nests, toadstools and baby deer. The vibrant colors drew us in! We adore Round. It’s a whimsical adventure with dotted snakes, ladybugs and bright yellow sunshine. Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster for the lovely addition to our nature collection.
About the Author
Jennifer Ward has written numerous award-winning picture books, including Just You and Me, illustrated by Alexander Vidal; How to Find a Bird, illustrated by Diana Sudyka; Round, illustrated by Lisa Congdon; and Mama Built a Little Nest and Mama Dug a Little Den, both illustrated by Steve Jenkins. A former elementary educator, Jennifer Ward is an experienced public speaker who travels the country, speaking in schools and at international and national writer and literacy conferences. She lives with her family in Edwardsville, Illinois. Visit her at JenniferWardBooks.com.
Lisa Congdon is an author, illustrator, and fine artist. Her other books include Whatever You Are, be a Good One; Art, Inc.; Fortune Favors the Brave; The Joy of Swimming; and Round by Jennifer Ward, which is her debut children’s picture book. She lives in Portland, Oregon. You can see more of her work at LisaCongdon.com.
