A New Beginning Review

PFEFFER, Wendy. A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox. illus. by Linda Bleck. unpaged. further reading. Web sites. Dutton. 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47874-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-5–Pfeffer combines basic science with cultural traditions and celebrations to describe this seasonal event. A simple explanation and equally clear graphics serve to contrast the light of summer solstice with the darkness of winter solstice and also to demonstrate the fact that both the vernal and autumnal equinoxes occur when day and night are of equal length. Bleck’s cheerful cartoon illustrations are well matched to the text and sport suitably bright hues. Springtime festivities within Chinese, Persian, Indian, and Mayan cultures are explored, with reference to ancient mythology and architectural structures. The significance of special holiday foods is also discussed, including pancakes for the Russian celebration of Maslenitsa, fresh berries for the Cree Native Americans, the symbolic seder plate for Jews at Passover, and eggs for Easter. The back of the book offers a craft activity or recipe for each holiday mentioned. Useful for seasonal units, the book offers a list of print resources and Web sites but could be considered an additional purchase for libraries that have Ellen Jackson’s The Spring Equinox (Millbrook, 2002).–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT