Fletcher's Seasons

K-Gr 2—Each of these rereleased seasonal stories features Fletcher, a sweet but mildly anxious young fox as he copes with falling leaves, springtime blossoms, and a snowy Christmas. Based on three beautifully illustrated picture books, the seven- to 11-minute adventures about the changing seasons translate well to the screen with limited but endearing animation of the soft watercolor renderings of the little fox and his friends. In each story, Fletcher and company—a squirrel, a porcupine, birds, and rabbits—come up with a proposed solution to their predicaments. The gentle tales, framed by Tiphanie Beeke's exquisite artwork and accompanied by lilting flute music, are artfully narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Alliterative and evocative, the rich, well-crafted language stirs the senses, and every windy sound conjures up "tickly showers of white fluttering petals." Children will delight in these animals, "scampering among the sunbeams," and teachers will find the bonus interviews with author Julia Rawlinson, Beeke, and director Cha-Pow! highly instructive and enjoyable. With zany humor and rousing sound effects, Cha-Pow! helps demystify the process of animating an author's work and brings new perspective to this creative art. Successful on many levels, this disc is a must for most libraries.