A young boy sitting on a fencepost wonders about a little black crow he sees. His questions are wide-ranging as he speculates on everything from the weather and the crow’s family to more serious considerations. “Are you ever afraid of mistakes you’ve made?” Rhyming and repetition create a musical cadence to the boy’s musings, inviting participation in narrative that works its way to the heart of what matters: the little boy’s sense of self and his place in the world. Watercolor and ink illustrations complement this contemplative book. Highly Commended, 2011 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 4–7)

Picture a sky
as big as all outdoors,
a fence disappearing over a hill,
a crow then appearing,
a boy looking up,
watching, wondering.
Not much more than a moment
but the meeting
lofts a rush of childhood questions—
27 in all—inspiring answers
as big as all outdoors.

Caldecott medalist Chris Raschka,
himself the boy perhaps,
has created a book in the sparest language
against the simplest setting,
to inspire in any young listener
the wonder of wondering.