While You're Away

by Theoodoris Papioannou, Petros Boulaubasis (Illustrator)

Overview

A beautiful story that humbly conveys the importance of paying attention to nature. 

While you're away from nature, doing other things, amazing wonders are happening all around you. Deer are sniffing out berries, squirrels are chasing each other, and owls are waiting for their moment to fly. Even if you don't happen to notice them, these little miracles happen every day. And if you stop to watch and listen carefully, you may very well see some of them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662650055
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 13.81(h) x 0.39(d)
Lexile:	AD930L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

THODORIS PAPAIOANNOU is an award-winning author who has written plays, a novel, and picture books for children. Additionally, he works as a school teacher, and he's worked in theater and in music.
He also manages the public library of Edessa, near his home in Germany.

PETROS BOULOUBASIS studied graphic design and teaches college-level art. His work has been shown in exhibitions in Greece, Spain, Japan, and Iran. He has received various awards for his work, including in his native Greece.

Editorial Reviews

06/22/2020

Wild creatures do wonderful things even when no one is around to see them, Papaioannou writes in this meditation on the natural world. “While you’re away from the forest,/ a mother doe might be searching for/ tasty blueberries to feed her fawn/ for breakfast.” Layered artwork by Bouloubasis (The Princess and the Petri Dish) flashes rainbow hues. Doe and fawn are warm orange with lavender shadows; overlapping shapes—darker green for nearby leaves, paler for those farther off—offer a sense of depth and capture the play of light. Some animals enjoy food (“A rabbit might be nibbling on wild pears”), others pursue pleasure (“A lazy lizard might be lying among wild strawberries, enjoying the sun’s warm rays”), and some long for love: “A squirrel might be getting ready/ for the leap of its life to a tree/ where its sweetheart waits.” These “small miracles” happen whether they are observed or not. But, Papaioannou advises, if one is present, “Shh! Just keep/ still and quiet!” By cataloguing small, everyday occurrences, the creators invite readers to imagine, and perhaps to regard, tantalizing moments in nature. Ages 3–5. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

An ABC Best Books for Young Readers selection

★ "Readers will find the time they spend poring over the illustrations may mirror the value of venturing into nature for its marvels. This beautifully rendered picture book offers a gentle reminder to appreciate the natural world and its creatures." — School Library Journal, starred review

"[A] meditation on the natural world....By cataloguing small, everyday occurrences, the creators invite readers to imagine, and perhaps to regard, tantalizing moments in nature." — Publishers Weekly

"The art is fantastic. . .  where each turn of the page is surprising. . .  The book is a series of discoveries, much like sitting in nature can be.An inviting look at nature and how it carries on whether you are there or not." — Waking Brain Cells

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2020

Gr 2–4—A picture book reverie about the lives of creatures in nature, untouched by human presence. Readers encounter forest flora and fauna, viewing different creatures' pursuits, scene by scene, as depicted through carefully illustrated possibilities. Bouloubasis's layered mixed-media compositions fill each spread with detail and exquisite subtlety in color saturation. While the creature described and depicted remains the scene's focal point, the surrounding habitat ripples with soft color schemes and bright lines, drawn with varying weight and direction for delightful movement. Masterful color blending and contrast purposefully bring to life the few well-chosen words about the forest creatures, to paint a more complete vision of beauty in nature. Readers will find the time they spend poring over the illustrations may mirror the value of venturing into nature for its marvels. VERDICT This beautifully rendered picture book offers a gentle reminder to appreciate the natural world and its creatures.—Rachel Mulligan, Pennsylvania State Univ.

School Library Journal