This little book from the Netherlands is filled with quaint, engaging pictures of Earthchildren who are little spirits of the earth and are very involved with all the living growing plants and animals. They are tiny like fairy folk but they have no wings. Their mother looks a bit like Mother Goose. They start out sleeping in soft brown clothes and they spruce up into bright colors to greet the springtime. The pictures are absolutely brilliant, fresh and innocent, colorful and joyful with satisfying details in the flowers and little critters. The rhyming text is stilted and forced but thankfully is not necessary for the enjoyment of this pretty book. ( )