A boy and his dog explore the countryside, greeting the elements of nature that they meet and noting how the environment is changing from winter to spring. - (Baker & Taylor)

In a simple, cheerful conversation with nature, a young boy observes how the season changes from winter to spring in Kenard Pak's Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring.

As days stretch longer, animals creep out from their warm dens, and green begins to grow again, everyone knows—spring is on its way!

Join a boy and his dog as they explore nature and take a stroll through the countryside, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the melting brook to chirping birds, they say goodbye to winter and welcome the lushness of spring.

Kenard Pak is the author and illustrator of Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn and Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter. As a visual-development artist, he’s worked with DreamWorks and Disney. Mr. Pak has illustrated many books for children, including Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray and The Dinner That Cooked Itself by J. C. Hsyu. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and their three cats. - (McMillan Palgrave)

Booklist Reviews

A boy wearing a hooded coat and boots walks around his wintry, rural yard after dark, saying "Hello" to the snow, the frozen pond, and the storm itself. Their replies include a greeting, their points of view on what's happening, and even a "howwwwllllll!" A turn of the page brings a morning full of changes. Now wearing a jacket, shorts, and sneakers, the boy runs outside, greeting the bright sun, the new leaves, and the returning birds. "Goodbye, winter. / Hello spring!" This satisfying picture book contrasts the relative quiet of wintry words such as drift, fall, huddle, and frozen with the vitality of early spring terms: waking, warm, budding, and green grass. In the handsome, digitally enhanced watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, the palette shifts as well. Subtle, mysterious scenes created mainly with black, white, and shades of gray give way to sunlit, increasingly colorful vistas, vibrant with orange, red, yellow, green, and blue. The third in Pak's series on seasonal changes, this handsome picture book is just right for reading aloud as winter ends and spring begins. Preschool-Grade 2. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

A dialogic approach to the turn of the seasons. A young child, with beige skin and dark hair, and a white dog walk through the darkened, snowy countryside. They greet the snow and the winter night; a frozen pond and an empty nest; and even a glass house. Each in turn answers back, offering insight into their experience of the chilly atmosphere. Following a wordless spread that serves as a pictorial climax, the season shifts toward spring, with increased sunlight, warmth, melting snow, and the renewed presence of songbirds and flowers. The world has come to life again, and the child and dog run through green fields sparsely patched with retreating snow. The contrasting color palettes and geometric shapes in the accumulating spreads effectively evoke the stark darkness of winter and the bright warmth of spring. Ground-level and bird's-eye perspectives of the rural setting and tiny details reward eagle-eyed readers. The rapid change from nocturnal winter storm to bright, green spring day seems a bit contrived, underscoring th e book's premise of transition and metamorphosis. Moreover, the child's conversation with the natural world at times leaves readers unclear of who is speaking, which may cause confusion during a read-aloud. This is the third book in Pak's seasonal cycle. A slight addition to a seasonal collection redeemed by its striking illustrations. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus 2019 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—A boy takes a daily walk with his dog through the countryside. The book opens with an array of wintry scenes but as it goes on, the boy observes the changes in the scenery as the season shifts from winter to spring. The book's repetition of the word "hello" becomes a soothing and rhythmic addition to the text. The child appears to be in constant conversation with the natural world around him. These conversations have a poetic tone and flow. The drawings are done in a folk-art style with scenes that often shift perspective, giving readers an opportunity to view the landscape in different ways. Neutral colors are used to portray dark snowy scenery. Snowflakes are streaked and dotted across pages, generating a realistic illusion of movement. Animals with playful expressions can be seen throughout. VERDICT A good addition to any seasonal storytime collection.—Deanna Smith, Pender County Public Library, NC