All About Pattern

Defines what a pattern is and points out some of the many different patterns that can be seen around us, in nature, at home, and in architecture, for example. Includes simple activities designed to increase the reader's awareness of patterns.

PreSchool-Grade 1?Two titles intended to introduce color and pattern. Each double-page spread gives written and visual examples, poses interactive questions ("How many stripy patterns can you see?"), and offers a suggestion for a craft or activity. The brightly hued, loosely rendered watercolor illustrations, set against a white background, are fresh and will appeal to young children, but the texts have some vague, misleading statements. In Color, "What is color?" is answered only by the statement, "Color is all around us." The yellow light of a traffic signal is called "amber" and is found on the "Orange" page. In Pattern, words such as "pagoda," "camouflaged," and "ammonites" are not defined in context. Some of the activities are beyond the interest or ability levels of the intended audience. Karen Bryant-Mole's "Images" series (Silver Pr.) introduces some of the same concepts and is similar in format but is more age appropriate in content.?July Siebecker, Hubbard Memorial Library, MA
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