In the Fiddle Is a Song: A Lift-the-Flap Book of Hidden Potential by Durga Bernhard Ages 4-8 24 pages Chronicle Books June 2006 Hardcover     Inside In the Fiddle is a Song: A Lift-the-Flap Book of Hidden Potential is a wonderful story waiting to be read. The author has found a unique way to show the hidden potential in many things found in our environment - blossoms, larva, and clouds develop naturally into plums, butterflies, and storms. Clay, wheat, and thread - with our assistance - can turn into pots, bread, and weaving. After reading this book, children will begin to wonder about their own environment. What is lying dormant inside that? What is this going to transform into? What can I change those into? The lift-the-flap format is a great way to let children see hidden potential. By opening the flaps, the possibilities are revealed. Readers won’t see what becomes of the grass or the fiddle until they lift the flaps. Children will be doubly awed with this book. Durga Bernhard has written and illustrated many children’s books. The illustrations for this book were done in gouache, and the colors, the close-ups, the changing perspectives and the different views really grab your attention. An acorn is seen close-up, lying in the fall leaves. The flap opens upwards revealing a tall tree. The acorn disappears. White blossoms border a farmer driving a tractor down a country road. With a lift of the flap, the view changes, time passes, and the farmer is picking plums. Highly recommended for libraries, both public and home.       web reviews   Tanya Boudreau/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)