For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Kirsten Caldwell’s review of “The Year in Colors” by Jana Sedláčková, first published May 26, 2026, in Booklist Online.
Enjoy.
“The Year in Colors”
By Jana Sedláčková. Illustrated by Magdalena Konečná. Translated by Andrew Oakland. May 2026. 32p. Albatros. Grades 1-3.
This concept book takes readers through the calendar year in colors. Each spread represents a different month and includes a paragraph description, labeled plants, animals, and events, as well as color swatches along the bottom that reinforce the mood and seasonal shifts. The illustrations are visually dense, requiring close looking, though they remain charming and evoke a sketchbook aesthetic reminiscent of a talented artist’s doodle pages. The abundance of details offers many opportunities for observation and discussion, particularly in one-on-one settings. Colorful, descriptive, and thorough, the book is better suited for browsing than for group sharing, as the crowded compositions may be challenging to navigate in a read-aloud format. After moving through the year, the title offers a broader, global perspective on seasonal change, acknowledging that experiences of the calendar year vary across regions. Supporting observation, vocabulary development, and seasonal units in a classroom setting, this dense but rewarding concept book is best suited for close, individual exploration.— Kirsten Caldwell
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