02/14/2022
A child forms an intimate connection to a field throughout the changing seasons in this distinctive dual children’s debut from poet Young and artist Ebinama. The story opens amid views of a densely flower-filled field in spring, brown-skinned Emile at its center. Light-infused landscapes proceed to show Emile and his black dog wandering the field, following a bee (“The bumblebees would sing/ to him, never sting”), and then—as time passes—romping among rust-colored autumn leaves and orange grasses. When winter brings snow, Emile despairs of sledders “and other, loud kids/ who rode the face/ of the field without/ Emile’s say-so,” but the experience provides an opportunity for reflection: “if we share.../ and learn to take care,/ it means the field/ will be here/ forever.” Young’s distinguished poetic lines and Ebinama’s gauzy watercolor and ink paintings offer a gentle vision of nature as meaningfully accessible and ample. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)
★ "[An] exquisite story of one boy’s unfettered delight in nature." —The Horn Book, starred review
"A gentle vision of nature as meaningfully accessible and ample." —Publishers Weekly
"[A] thing of beauty. From its exquisite endpapers, awash with wildflowers, and its sublime first words that evoke lolling in tall blue grasses, it captivates." —The New York Times
04/29/2022
K-Gr 3—Brown-skinned, short-haired Emile and his little black dog glory play in a wide field full of flowers and bees. Emile inspects a grasshopper among some daffodils, follows a bee, and hugs a maple tree beginning to drop its multicolored leaves—but he isn't so sure about winter, when the field is covered in snow and other children come to sled and play. His father explains that "if we share…and learn to take care…" the field will remain for all to enjoy. Emile, in a red winter coat, then makes a snow angel, recalling Peter in Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day. Ebinama's lovely, delicate watercolor-and-ink illustrations show the field in different seasons and times of day, and a spectacular night sky with fireflies, moon, and stars, making full use of the spectrum a landscape provides. There is a lyricism to the text, though it doesn't adhere to a rhyme scheme; together, story and pictures are an old-fashioned celebration of nature. VERDICT Like Kenard Pak's tenderly illustrated books that take on seasons (his own Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall and Cathy Camper's Ten Ways to Hear Snow), this book shows a deep appreciation for nature, and an acceptance of cyclical change; it will reward the introspective reader.—Jenny Arch
2022-01-12
The story of a young Black boy who “fell in love with a field.”
The book opens with a peaceful scene of Emile sitting in a field overrun with wildflowers of various colors. This is his favorite haunt, where he and his little black dog spend countless hours undisturbed, daydreaming and communing with blossoms and insects. Emile—who often whispers lovingly to the field and regards it as a sentient companion—reflects on all the things the field will never get to experience. Although the field knows the four seasons and “how many stars / there were / and just how far,” it will never get to see the sea and skyscrapers. When winter comes and snow covers the field, Emile worries, wondering where the field goes when it disappears. And when some noisy children invade the field to sled and build snowpals, Emile hates that he has to share his beloved sanctuary, until his dad teaches him that love is not about possession but appreciation. Although some readers may pause at the unconventional punctuation, Young’s gentle, sparely worded narrative endearingly captures the animistic, magical thinking of children and the joy of tranquil childhood hours spent in nature. The impressionistic, atmospheric artwork—rendered in watercolor and ink—underscores the dreamy, spontaneous nature of Emile’s outdoor adventures and features open compositions that create a sense of expansiveness. All characters present Black except one White background character.
A charming exploration of children’s special relationship with nature. (Picture book. 5-8)
In a warm voice filled with wonder, poet Kevin Young (BROWN) reads his ode to finding peace and belonging in nature. Young boy Emile falls in love with a field and chronicles its changing seasons as he spends time there—yellow flowers and bumblebees in spring, snow in winter. Snow, though, “meant Emile had to share the field with sleds and other loud kids who rode the face of the field without Emile’s say-so.” With gentle wisdom, Emile’s father explains that sharing and caring for the field will preserve it, and Emile comes to understand that the “field would not, could not, be bought, or belong to anyone.” Young listeners should follow along with the picture book to appreciate the illustrations, and to be inspired to seek out their own magical corners of the natural world. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
In a warm voice filled with wonder, poet Kevin Young (BROWN) reads his ode to finding peace and belonging in nature. Young boy Emile falls in love with a field and chronicles its changing seasons as he spends time there—yellow flowers and bumblebees in spring, snow in winter. Snow, though, “meant Emile had to share the field with sleds and other loud kids who rode the face of the field without Emile’s say-so.” With gentle wisdom, Emile’s father explains that sharing and caring for the field will preserve it, and Emile comes to understand that the “field would not, could not, be bought, or belong to anyone.” Young listeners should follow along with the picture book to appreciate the illustrations, and to be inspired to seek out their own magical corners of the natural world. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
