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On Kevin Henkes





"Spring is a surprise." The days become strange. On certain mornings, the sun is out, "warming the wind." On other days, the snow returns; you need six layers of clothing; colleagues make allusions to "snowmaggedon." 


That's the entire plot of Kevin Henkes's new book. The main reason I like the book is that it seems like a "greatest hits" tour for Henkes; we have the kitten from "Kitten's First Full Moon," we have the carriage from "Julius." We have the flowers from "My Garden." I also appreciate the sense of rhythm: Yes, said the flowers in the garden. Yes, said the buds on the branches. Yes, said the birds in the sky. The rule of threes: the sun is "warming the wind and melting the snow and calling the animals."


Gorgeous book.
 

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