Hap-Pea All Year

With simple, upbeat rhyming text and playful, vibrant illustrations, the entertaining little pea characters of Baker’s popular series here cheerfully introduce the months of the year. Each spread features the month’s name, in oversize lettering, as numerous, peppy, diversely accessorized peas clamber all over the letters. For each page spread, the peas get up to timely antics and activities–carrying valentines in February, umbrellas in April, and school bags in September, and welcoming friends and family with pie in November. After December, the months are creatively brought together to start “another hap-pea … happea … year.” Most seasons and holidays aren’t formally identified, but the text, visuals, and color palette incorporate familiar traits: a brightly hued sunny sky in June is the backdrop for the transition from classroom scene to outdoor playtime, while earthy, autumnal tones depict pumpkin carving and jumping in leaves in October. Though the whimsical, scrutiny-inviting scenes make this better for one-on-one or small-group reading, this provides a playful, engaging approach to the topic, while also cleverly conveying various seasonal elements and the calendar’s cyclical nature. – Shelle Rosenfeld–Booklist “November 1, 2016 “

Keith Baker has written and illustrated many acclaimed picture books for young children, including the New York Times bestselling LMNO Peas, 1-2-3 Peas, Little Green Peas, Hap-pea All Year, LMNO Pea-quel, My Octopus Arms, and No Two Alike. He lives in Washington state.