Boom Boom by Sarvinder Naberhaus (review)

Dark stormclouds move in over a set of playground swings, and then a multicultural classroom of young children is startled by a loud “BOOM BOOM,” followed by a “Flash! Flash!” of lightning. The storm soon subsides, though with a “drip drip” and the children race outside to play in the playground puddles: “Splash! Splash!” This repeated word pattern continues as the children move from what is presumably spring into summer, with blooming flowers, buzzing bees, and the thrills of blowing dandelion fluff. Autumn brings the crunching of leaves and ripe apples, while winter serves up swirls of snowflakes and foggy breath and the silence that is unique to a snow-draped landscape. The simple text is surprisingly effective, with the word choice particularly friendly for reading aloud, while the seasonal depictions offer discussion points for classrooms or story hour attendees about nature and seasonal change. The brevity of the text puts emphasis on Chodos-Irvine’s stunning mixed-media art, which utilizes textured wallpaper, vinyl fabric, plastic lace, and cut stencils. Vivid colors, elegant compositions, unusual perspectives, and the judicious use of white space make the illustrations both highly attractive and bold enough to easily share with a group. Use possibilities abound with this title, and you’ll definitely want to keep it on hand to celebrate the sound of the seasons.