In this fetching testament to the maxim that "poetry is all around us," Daniel spends his days in a dreamy park exploring nature and finding answers to the question, "What is poetry?" Glorious flora and handsomely textured rocks are abundant in Daniel's park, and friendly fauna each has a different answer to his question. On Monday, Spider offers, "To me, poetry is when morning dew glistens." On Tuesday, Squirrel tells him, "Poetry is when crisp leaves crunch." Chipmunk, Frog, Turtle, Cricket, and Owl all give input in succession. By Sunday, Daniel's question is answered, and he is able to infuse each critter's sense of poetry into his own poem for the "Poetry in the Park Program." The lush oil illustrations, which consist of collages made from tissue paper and patterned with handmade stamps, create a world saturated in color and texture, complementing the animals' well-chosen words about beauty and poetry in the natural world. Readers will take many repeat visits to Daniel's inviting park.

Gr 1-3 Daniel, a curious boy with dark curly hair and wide wondering eyes, discovers the meaning of poetry in this enchanting picture book. On Monday, he notices a sign advertising an event called Poetry in the Park. He wonders, "What is poetry?" His friend Spider informs Daniel that poetry is "when morning dew glistens." Proceeding chronologically through the days of the week, Daniel asks a different denizen of the park the same question and receives a new answer every time. To the wild creatures who live in the park, poetry is everything from "when crisp leaves crunch" to "singing at twilight." Finally, on Sunday, Daniel realizes that all of the responses he received are correct. He will find poetry around every corner within the boundaries of the beautiful park. Archer's atmospheric and evocative collage illustrations enhance the sense of peace and contentment shared by Daniel and his animal friends. The final picture, in which the boy sits quietly contemplating a kaleidoscope of colors splashed across the mirrorlike water, reveals what poetry is for him: "the sunset sky reflecting in the pond." VERDICT Readers who revel in the everyday small miracles in nature will identify with Daniel and appreciate this lyrical story. Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston