"A delightful read, Paula Fox once again demonstrates her mastery of the vivid art of the written word. Traces is a wonderful resource that encourages quiet moments of one-on-one reading, group storytelling, and classroom study of effective writing. Highly Recommended."
     —Library Media Connection

"In this subtle rumination, an eminent writer and illustrator point out that many things leave traces of their passage—whether it be ripples in a pond from the frog that has jumped in, a jet’s trail across the sky, or the slanting shadows of children at day’s end. ... This book can be seen as an invitation to look more closely at the world... [T]he theme’s elegiac feel suggests that it may also bring comfort to readers who have lost a friend or family member. Readers somewhat older than the target audience will appreciate this, too."
     —Booklist

"Kuskin's watercolor-and-collage illustrations brilliantly follow bubbles, tails, footprints and shadows across double-page spreads tracking clues left by the not-quite invisible passage of someone or something. A fascinating look at an overlooked part of nature."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"We do not move through the world without leaving a wake. This is both a joy and a sobering reminder of our situation. It is also the subject of Fox and Kuskin’s delicate, graceful, new picture book. ...Fox, the author of many excellent books, often for young readers, gives the book an energetic and distilled poetry. Fox, the author of many excellent books, often for young readers, gives the book an energetic and distilled poetry. ...The charming medallion sun, torn-paper clouds and watercolor ribbon of the horizon found on these spreads all feel like the naïve and studious work of a dedicated seven-year-old. Their matter-of-factness is disarming. By choosing to make the pictures this way, Kuskin, a poet who both writes and illustrates, is literally revealing the traces her hand leaves behind. This choice fits the premise of the book beautifully."
     —Publishers Weekly


Show All Reviews

 "A delightful read, Paula Fox once again demonstrates her mastery of the vivid art of the written word. Traces is a wonderful resource that encourages quiet moments of one-on-one reading, group storytelling, and classroom study of effective writing. Highly Recommended."
     —Library Media Connection

"In this subtle rumination, an eminent writer and illustrator point out that many things leave traces of their passage—whether it be ripples in a pond from the frog that has jumped in, a jet’s trail across the sky, or the slanting shadows of children at day’s end. ... This book can be seen as an invitation to look more closely at the world... [T]he theme’s elegiac feel suggests that it may also bring comfort to readers who have lost a friend or family member. Readers somewhat older than the target audience will appreciate this, too."
     —Booklist

"Kuskin's watercolor-and-collage illustrations brilliantly follow bubbles, tails, footprints and shadows across double-page spreads tracking clues left by the not-quite invisible passage of someone or something. A fascinating look at an overlooked part of nature."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"We do not move through the world without leaving a wake. This is both a joy and a sobering reminder of our situation. It is also the subject of Fox and Kuskin’s delicate, graceful, new picture book. ...Fox, the author of many excellent books, often for young readers, gives the book an energetic and distilled poetry. Fox, the author of many excellent books, often for young readers, gives the book an energetic and distilled poetry. ...The charming medallion sun, torn-paper clouds and watercolor ribbon of the horizon found on these spreads all feel like the naïve and studious work of a dedicated seven-year-old. Their matter-of-factness is disarming. By choosing to make the pictures this way, Kuskin, a poet who both writes and illustrates, is literally revealing the traces her hand leaves behind. This choice fits the premise of the book beautifully."
     —Publishers Weekly

"Traces" is a kind of poem about the clues left behind by a world in motion — a turtle’s footprints in the sand, a frog’s air bubbles, a jet’s smoky trail. Fox’s words have a gentle repeating rhythm, as light-footed as the animal that has just left one scene: “Something, someone was just here. Now there’s barely a trace of it." Her observations are keen and evocative... The absence of rhyming verse is refreshing for a children’s poem and suits Fox’s quiet reflections."
     —New York Times Book Review

"The illustrations are elegant, decorative, and vivid, combining slender, delicate line, smokily pigmented watercolor, and collage components in a variety of textures. Elements usually float across a white background, resulting in a look that recalls the lush intricacy of embroidery. Use this as a bridge between April Pulley Sayre and Joyce Sidman, or just to encourage language arts students to explore their own views of traces."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books