A young, brown-skinned boy with bright and observant eyes heads outside to sit quietly in his backyard garden. “I am so quiet, I even hear the sounds around me— chirp, squeak, crunch. I can almost hear a butterfly flutter by. I sit still and listen.” As hungry fauna move about the colorful flora, the boy watches as a vivid food web is cast about him. Parallel to the main text runs a friendly repeated conversation between the animals he sees. To the butterfly sipping nectar, a worm asks, “Why did you do that?” “I was thirsty,” said the butterfly. “And it is so tasty and sweet.” A thoughtful introduction to the peaceful and amazing aspects of simple gardens for very young children, Aliki’s latest picture book concludes with directions for creating an outdoor garden. (Ages 3–6)