Ring of Earth: A Child's Book of Seasons

I found this book when searching for something to teach my preschooler about seasons. I purchased it sight-unseen, and although it didn't turn out to be a reference book by any stretch of the imagination, it is a wonderful book of poems with gorgeous illustrations. My 4 year old often asks me to read it to him at bedtime, and the language gently lulls him to sleep almost every time. The book contains 4 poems, one for each season. They are written from the perspective of animals: Weasel for Winter, Spring peeper frog for Spring, Dragonfly for Summer, and Goose for Autumn. Each poem features a different meter. They all rhyme, but the last poem about the Goose is probably the hardest to read aloud, especially if you are unfamiliar with conventions of poetry. The watercolor illustrations are colorful, crisp, and full of interesting details. I don't have enough expertise in poetry to adequately describe the poems, but I can say they are several pages long, rhythmic but not bouncy, and full of beautiful observations about the seasons. If you like to read poetry out loud to your child or just want to share the beauty of language and the seasons, please look into this book.