Why? Questions, Questions by Marcus Pfister

WHAT TURNS THE LEAVES FROM GREEN TO BROWN
AND SENDS THEM FLOATING GENTLY DOWN?

DO APPLE TREES DREAM HAPPILY OF GROWING UP TO BE A TREE?

Marcus Pfister's just published Questions, Questions (NorthSouth, 2011) asks the eternal questions, those with answers from the sublime to, well, the practical--from "to glorify God" to "I dunno. I'll Google it for you!" Pfister, author of the Rainbow Fish books, offers no answers, to these eternal questions which humans begin to ask at a very young age. Who paints butterflies with so many colors? Why? Who teaches birds to sing all the songs they know? How do they know where to go in the winter? How many shells make up the shore?

Pfister offers no answers to the sorts of questions small children ask. What he does offer are splendid pages of color, page after page of glowing prints in gorgeous color on bright white backgrounds which, if they offer no science or philosophy, reflect the wonder in this beautiful universe that these youthful questions imply. Using his own technique of cardboard shapes and strong acrylic paint, Pfister creates textured prints which invite touch and which are a joy to the eye, only randomly lighted by the trademark metallic color which characterizes his beloved and best-selling Rainbow Fish books.

Questions, Questions is a book to look at with wonder, to inspire wonder, and start discussion with young readers.