B Is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet Book

$16.99
by Hannah Viano

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A followup to her bestselling ABC book S is for Salmon, celebrated paper artist Hannah Viano has created another beautiful alphabet book that will appeal to children as well as adults. A is for Acorn; B is for Bear; C is for Cloud. B is for Bear features the flora, fauna, and landscape elements in this book are found throughout North America, so readers around the country will connect with Viano's gorgeous art and text that are both scientific and poetic. Fans of Nikki McClure and Kate Endle will appreciate the beautiful handmade appeal of this book. PreS-Gr 1—Appealing to older children who may already know their ABCs, Viano takes readers through a nature-filled walk through the alphabet. Shades of moss green and pale blue dominate the palette. The pages are framed in a bold black border. The upper- and lowercase form of each letter are included, though the word featured on each page is written in all capital letters. Viano uses sophisticated, vocabulary-stretching words to present information ("A cloud is made of water droplets suspended in air."). Sentences range in complexity from simple declarative statements to longer, more complicated ones. The strength of this book lies in the captivating artwork that looks like woodcut but was actually created by cutting away from a sheet of black paper to reveal shaped and lines. VERDICT A solid alphabet book for the older picture book crowd.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA "The swirling school of herring is simply astounding. While adults are more likely to appreciate the artwork than children, the elegance of the images will leave an imprint with even very young listeners. Rate this book with an A and an O for awesome and outstanding." —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW Viano’s  S Is for Salmon  (2014) focused on the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest. Now she celebrates a more expansive landscape, captured in crisp images cut from black paper and colored digitally. Tidy black rectangles frame each illustration, accompanied by brief captions with intriguing details; on the page for  H  a spiral of tiny herring, set against a subdued blue backdrop, “keep safe by swimming together.” Elsewhere readers can learn the scientific name for lightning bugs ( Lampyridae ), that ants like to hang out in the petals of Queen Anne’s lace, and that wild violets can be found sprouting under dead leaves in the spring. An emphatic love of nature courses through the book, starting with its dedication, “to all of those who let children run a little wild, climbing trees and splashing in puddles. —Publishers Weekly The illustrations in B is for Bear are perfectly stunning...B is for Bear, and for book, beautiful and breathtaking! —Good Reads with Ronna B Is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet is a brand new book of paper-cut illustrations that includes animals and natural features from farther afield. Of all of the outdoor creatures she mentions in this book, from jackrabbits to yellow-bellied sapsuckers, I confess my favorite entry is for the letter K. Her short simple text reads, "What is another creature that belongs outdoors? KIDS!" and her illustration shows a tree with children climbing the branches. —The Bookmonger, Kitsap Sun Parents and teachers, make room on your bookshelves for two new titles. B is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet is Hannah Viano’s follow-up to S is for Salmon . The book is more general than her first effort, but it is a lovely addition to any primary collection. It features clean lines, striking paper-cut art, and informative text featuring flora and fauna. —Hakai magazine E is for Excellent! Finally an alphabet book for nature lovers and dedicated "to all of those who let children run a little wild. —Midwest Book Review Simply beautiful. —New York Botanical Garden  Children as well as adults…will connect to Viano’s gorgeous art and text that are both scientific and poetic. —Addicted to Saving A youth spent on the rocky Maine coast introduced HANNAH VIANO to the marvels of life on and by the water. Now she connects to Northwest nature and culture through public art projects, education, and site-specific installations. She is the author of the children’s books, Arrow to Alaska , S Is for Salmon , and the journal Weathering . She currently lives in Twisp, WA, with her family.

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