Poetic pairings of creatures and concepts in the natural world reward readers’ close attention by drawing playful and often thought-provoking connections between each duo. Three lines on the first double page spread set the stage for a page turn followed by the final—and often unexpected—line. “if i was an apple / and you were a worm / you’d call me lunch / and i’d call you squirm” centers on humor, while “if i was the silence / and you were a sound / i’d call you missing / and you’d call me found” is more contemplative, with the words’ interpretation enhanced by an illustration of two adult and a juvenile deer in a still winter landscape on the first spread, followed by an overhead perspective of honking migrating geese while the fawn looks up at their clamorous flight. Lush production elements include slightly oversized pages of heavy paper that showcase the appealingly idealized illustrations. (Ages 3–7)