Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intriguing, poetic take on the seasons for curious kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
YEAR ROUND is organized into four seasonal sections: "Winter Questions," "Spring Feelings," "Summer Wishes," and "Fall Thoughts." A drawing of a classroom opens each section, empty in winter, full of kids for spring, a chaotic scene of partying preceding summer, and, for fall, being decorated like a stage for a play to teach about the seasons. Each spread pairs whimsical reflections like "Does your boot feel nice and snug? Does the snow dog need a hug?" with related pictures. The book ends with the invitation: "Will you spend the year with me, and be my special friend?"
Is It Any Good?
This intriguing, poetic take on the seasons invites young readers to think about all the questions, feelings, wishes, and thoughts that come in every season. Year Round's loosely rhymed text is soothing to read aloud, and the saturated, pastel art is a joy to explore. While sometimes the ponderings are a bit vague ("A little thing won't spoil a day, when frowns can turn to grinnings" only makes sense if you see the wiggly worm in the burger or know how a friend can cheer you up), on the whole, this quirky approach to seasonal differences will bring variety to reading time and even formal study of the seasons (in a classroom setting).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the seasons as represented in Year Round. What makes the "Winter Questions" unique to winter? Or the "Summer Wishes" specific to summer? Why do you think the author chose "Fall Thoughts" instead of "Fall Questions"?
Thinking about the seasons not just in terms of what's happening, but also what questions, feelings, wishes, and thoughts you might have is an invitation to be imaginative and creative. What are you curious to learn or know about the season you're in right now?
What do you think or feel about the art, with soft colors and light, curvy lines? What words would you use to describe it? Do you enjoy this kind of art? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Audrey Helen Weber
- Genre : Board
- Topics : School ( Elementary School , Preschool ) , STEM ( Nature )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Neal Porter Books
- Publication date : October 14, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : March 19, 2026
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