This book's gentle rhymes and humorous illustrations full of signs of spring will make it a little easier to wait for the first warm days of the season.
Chuck Groenink (www.chuckgroenink.com) hails from an overgrown village among the peat bogs in the north of the Netherlands, where he spent his formative years climbing trees, drawing, reading, and cycling. He attended the Artez Institute of Visual Arts in Kampen, graduating from the department of illustration in 2004. He lives in Hudson, New York with his wife and two cats.
"It won't take listeners long to chime in on this repeated refrain . . . Groenink's illustrations deftly juxtapose the warm light of the cabin with the darkness outside, and his characters are expressive; few readers will be able to stifle their own yawns."--Kirkus Reviews
*"Beautifully paced, rhymed, and cadenced . . . The text reads aloud well, with natural places for kids to join in . . . a subdued palate of deep blues, grays, and tawny browns . . creates a strong sense of the setting and the appealing characters. Just right for reading aloud on cold, wintry nights." --Booklist (starred review)
*"Ashman's meticulously crafted rhymes are a delight to read, and the page turns build gently tension (who's at the door now?) Groenink makes the cabin look eminently cozy. . .And his forest creatures--who yawn in unison with William each time they try to get some shut-eye--are as adorable as it gets."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)