underGROUND [Hardcover]

Discover the down and dirty secrets of underground creatures in this vibrant picture book from a Caldecott Honor medalist.

What young child doesn’t love playing in the dirt? And who hasn’t wondered what goes on in the lives of all the creatures who live underground?
     Celebrated Caldecott Honor medalist Denise Fleming applies her signature bold and bright pulp-paper-collage style to a universal childhood topic in this dynamic, rhythmic book that’s just right for reading aloud—and comes complete with a detailed glossary.Denise Fleming has written and illustrated numerous celebrated books, including5 Little Ducks;Go, Shapes, Go!;underGROUND;SHOUT!;Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy;Time to Sleep;The Everything Book;Alphabet Under Construction;Count!;In the Tall, Tall Grass;In the Small, Small Pond, which received a Caldecott Honor; andThis Is the Nest That Robin Built. She lives in Toledo, Ohio, with her husband, David Powers, with whom she often collaborates.“The earth beneath children’s feet is teeming with activity if only they look. In this engaging backyard exploration, the art provides a narrative frame: A boy and his dog are planting a tree. Brief, rhythmic text invites youngsters to examine the labyrinth “[l]ow down. / Way down. / Under ground.” Fleming’s pulp-painting technique is used to best advantage to capture the textures of coarse dirt, pebbles, roots and tunnels, and every page-turn offers full-spread cutaway views…. Children who look closely will also find those lost treasures that are always so much fun to dig up—a key, a coin, a toy car and more…. A spread entitled Creature Identification provides more information about each of the critters, completing the book. Validation for every kid who's ever picked up a trowel to explore the wonders underground.”lƒE