CCBC Choices

2002

Children's Literature Choice List

2002

new York Times Book Review Notable Book

2001

CCBC Choices

2002

Children's Literature Choice List

2002

new York Times Book Review Notable Book

2001

Best Books —SLJ

2001

New York Times Book Review

"Nina Payne's simple poem consists of only 56 common nouns that every child knows, which could suggest an infinity of stories, or none at all. The story that Adam Payne has found among those simple nouns is one that grows in complexity with every reading. … One senses a gentle, guiding intelligence behind everything in the making of this four-square little production. The subtle, unforced message here is that even in a dark world, we build, we plant, we paint, we make music, and we love one another."

School Library Journal

"The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem."

Publishers Weekly

"It is hard to say which is more poetic —Nina Payne's (All The Day Long) exceptionally well crafted text or her son's immaculately conceived cut-paper collages. …Very young children in particular will delight in the sturdiness of the language; and readers of all ages will want to keep an eye on a promising new illustrator."

New York Times Book Review

"Nina Payne's simple poem consists of only 56 common nouns that every child knows, which could suggest an infinity of stories, or none at all. The story that Adam Payne has found among those simple nouns is one that grows in complexity with every reading. … One senses a gentle, guiding intelligence behind everything in the making of this four-square little production. The subtle, unforced message here is that even in a dark world, we build, we plant, we paint, we make music, and we love one another."

School Library Journal

"The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem." "The fibered textures in a richly nuanced palette ranging from earth tones to lovely blues, greens, purples, yellows, and reds are roughly cut into simple shapes that provide intriguing detail; there is plenty to look for while piecing together the story. … One-on-one or small-group sharing offer the best chance to appreciate the exuberance and creativity of the simple gem."

Publishers Weekly

"It is hard to say which is more poetic —Nina Payne's (All The Day Long) exceptionally well crafted text or her son's immaculately conceived cut-paper collages. …Very young children in particular will delight in the sturdiness of the language; and readers of all ages will want to keep an eye on a promising new illustrator."

Booklist

"The solid language choices, which take light in the paper-cut collages, strong in earth colors, show not only skill but also a keen inventiveness as they fashion a real story out of simple words. This offers maximum opportunity for children to "read" the pictures and find subtle details that will help them shape a story of their own."

CCBC Choices (University of Wisconsin)

"Adam Payne's… deeply hued images, perfectly matched to the words, depict the story of a young girl's fantastical journey away (thought not too far away) from home and her joyous, triumphant return. The presence of a story may prove most appealing —or comforting —to adults. Young children will respond first and foremost to the individual images conjured by the artist and the rhythmic, chant-like quality of the poem read as a whole."

Riverbank Review

"Concept books for young children typically feature simple, generalized forms in bright colors. Four in All, in contrast, invites close scrutiny in a well-lighted room. Its muted colors and extraordinary delicacy of design may find a more appreciative audience in children who are beyond the age of learning the words in the poem, but not above thinking about them in a new way."

Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review

"This is an extraordinary journey into the world of magic or make-believe, depending on how you prefer to look at things. Using only fifty-six commonly used and familiar nouns, the author has created a whole world, rhyming the words in such a way that the narrative flows easily from page to page. Children can decide for themselves whether the girl imagines her adventures or whether they really happen. Best of all they can see how language has its own inherent beauty and that words can suggest a great many things.Astonishingly lovely cut-paper collage art perfectly captures the essence of the words and the story. The artist is able to give his work great detail and depth through the clever use of color and textured papers."

NAPRA Review, PA

"An all-noun rhyme evoking natural and visual elements arranged in groups of four … becomes a thoughtful exploration by virtue of eloquent mixed media collages, making this book a natural entry point for discussion or contemplation."

Eric Carle

"When I first heard Four in All I absolutely fell in love with Nina Payne's spare and innocent verse and doubted anyone could create pictures sensitive enough to mesh with the words. I was wrong. Today, finished book in hand, I marvel at the exquisite collages by Adam Payne. Mother and son have constructed a gem of a book —a book for all ages. Congratulations!"

Malaprop's Bookstore

"This absolutely stunning gift book, published by local, award-winning Front Street Books, is a mother-son collaboration. … Lovers and collectors of beautiful children's books will want to see this depiction of a young girl's travels across a magical landscape."