ALA Booklist (Wed May 01 00:00:00 CDT 1996)

Fleming celebrates wildlife in this beautifully illustrated picture book. The text is one long sentence strung out in fragments, telling of how things were before a housing development was built: Where once there was a wood / a meadow / and a creek / where once the red fox rested and closed his eyes to sleep /. . . .where once there was a wood a meadow and a creek / sit houses side by side / twenty houses deep. Using her signature medium of papermaking with brightly colored cotton rag fibers, Fleming creates a series of striking spreads that show up particularly well from a distance. The textures and colors create appealing effects of dappled light and shadows. Four pages of appended notes, evidently aimed at adults and older children, tell how to plan a backyard habitat that welcomes wild creatures. Included are lists of plants that provide shelter and food and books that provide further information. (Reviewed May 1, 1996)

Horn Book

Accompanied by her lustrous handmade paper illustrations, Fleming's brief text describes the many creatures who once lived in a wild area but whose homes have been destroyed by a new housing development. Fleming includes an afterword that describes the things families can do to create new backyard habitats for birds and animals.

Kirkus Reviews

Already a favorite of preschoolers, Fleming (In the Small, Small Pond, 1993, etc.) takes an appreciation of the natural world a giant step further. Rhythmic verse—Where once there was a wood/a meadow/and a creek . . . sit houses side by side/twenty houses deep''—demonstrates that there was another sort of community before people arrived,where once the brown snake/slithered and slipped out of sight.'' An ecology lesson it surely is, but it's also a celebration of the earth and its creatures. Illustrations in vivid jewel-and-earth tones appear on handmade paper; the woods, creeks, and meadows are clean and inviting, and, bringing balance to the presentation, the new houses are not without their charms. The lively back matter, titled ``Welcome Wildlife to Your Backyard Habitat,'' offers substantial, easily executed suggestions for encouraging wildlife around the home; it's information just right for family and classroom sharing. Perfect for Earth Day observances, a book that's as welcome as spring. (bibliography) (Picture book. 3-6)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

PW called this plea for the conservation of wildlife habitats """"a beautiful call to action."""" Ages 4-10. (May)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--Fleming's unique illustrative style provides an exciting backdrop to this distinctive, environmental picture book. The simple, hand-lettered text introduces the wild creatures and plants that once thrived in a wooded area, before their displacement by a housing development. Art, text, and design are creatively matched. Lush, textured collage artwork features a stunning combination and arrangement of colors with brilliant hues juxtaposed against muted earth tones. It is remarkable that the gentle, poetic narration is never overpowered by the pictures. Instead, a graceful rhythm is established as the natural habitats are explored. The tempo accelerates when animals are observed in action. The final two pages provide a dramatic conclusion as the text switches from free-flowing to deliberate. The illustrations change as well, presenting a sharp contrast between the beauty of the natural habitat and the stark symmetry of roof lines and window frames. Suggestions for creating backyard habitats and brief directions for establishing butterfly and hummingbird gardens are appended, along with information about the National Wildlife Federation and a list of related books. A book to be shared with and enjoyed by a wide audience.--Sarabeth Kalajian, Venice Public Library, FL