Starred Review In this slightly oversize, lengthy picture book, UK author-illustrator Hopgood takes young readers on a tour of the seasons. Beginning with a look at traditional signs (daffodils in spring, changing leaves in fall, etc.), each season is presented through a delightful hodgepodge of facts, poetry, art, crafts, and wonder. A mix of short, lyrical text, free verse, and lightly rhyming poetry describes the seasonal behaviors of plants, bugs, birds (some of which may be new to American readers), amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals, as well as such natural phenomena as cloud formations, phases of the moon, and pollination. Interspersed among these facts are a few related crafts and activities, from making paper snowflakes to a building a bug hotel. Topping off the collection, however, are vibrant mottled and textured illustrations, often reminiscent of Eric Carle. Especially eye-catching are double-page spreads with large-scale, labeled collections, such as summer fruits, fall apples, bird eggs, leaf shapes, and animal tracks in the snow. Hopgood's occasional questions and personal reflections, like identifying some of his favorite butterflies, further encourage youngsters to ponder their environment. If children had coffee tables of their own, this would be the book they'd leave out, dipping in and out to marvel at nature's beauty all year long.