And Then It's Spring

Written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead, this adaptation of the 2012 picture book is animated by Cha-Pow! and features music by Ernest Troost. A bespectacled young boy and his pet companions (including a faithful dog, bunny, and turtle) work on garden projects and anticipate turning the barren ground into a spring bounty: tracking the progress of a sprinkling of seeds labeled with signs, wishing for rain, and using a magnifying glass to search for a spot of green in a “hopeful, very possible, sort of brown.” And Then It's Spring is a very simple story—I suspect the Booklist, Kirkus, and School Library Journal starred book comes across better in print form—with muted colors and not much action. DVD extras include read-along subtitles and an interview with Fogliano. A strong optional purchase. Aud: K, P. (J. Williams-Wood)