Ages 3^-6. During the winter the farm is very quiet. Animals rest in the barn and in the farmhouse. When spring comes, new animals are born and everyone wants to play and make noise. Although there isn't any story here, the collection of hand-tinted photographs picturing animals--from puppies and kittens to geese and cows--makes the book a natural read-aloud for small children. The various scenes of farm life are illustrated by black-and-white photographs that have been hand tinted with oils. This technique creates a look that is both realistic and playful. --Marta Segal

Using painstakingly hand-tinted photographs, newcomer Kerr introduces an animal cast of characters snuggled "safe and warm" in winter seclusion in the farmhouse and barn. When spring comes, the creatures venture into the great outdoors. Kerr uses her spare text as a kind of caption for each photograph; together the images effectively telegraph how the warmth and sunshine put a spring (literally) in the animals' steps. Though at times there is little contrast between interior vs. exterior photo shots (e.g., a photograph of a hen roosting during winter possesses the same look and texture as the image of four puppies peering into the spring air), the mood of the photographs' styling varies provocatively and appropriately. For example, some images, such as one of goats and geese at their troughs, have a documentary feel, while others, including a soft-focus spread of a mare and foal on their first post-winter foray into a sunlit field, exude an unabashed romanticism. Unfortunately, the book's smallish, square format and rather perfunctory design work against the photographs, cramping their power and artistry. Still, Kerr's expertise with the camera comes through loudly and clearly, and youngsters will come away with a strong sense of how a farmyard is transformed by the change of seasons. Ages 2-4. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

PreS-K-The plot in this charming book is predictable: a quiet little farm turns loud as noisy baby animals emerge in the spring. However simple, it is an important opportunity to help children become familiar with the larger world of seasons and cycles, and the minimal text encourages them to imitate animal sounds. Kerr's photographed black-and-white images hand-tinted with oil paint create a unique, soft visual experience in which individual blades of grass, animals, and flames in an open fireplace stand out on the pages. Every design element works to maintain the pleasant, nostalgic effect of the book, from its blue gingham endpapers to the sun-drenched scenes and frequent blue-line borders. A good choice for storytimes or a cozy lap read.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.