"Follow the wordless journey of a maple key, as it twirls away from the parent tree and across the city. Along the way the windblown key crosses paths with children, their families, and a variety of animals. It even stars momentarily in a child's artwork, before finally landing, overwintering, and germinating in the spring. Solid nature content is interwoven with human narratives in this fresh new take on natural life cycles and the larger circle of life. A journey for the maple key, and for readers, this "slice of life" story is bursting with details Learn about plants and their seeds, specifically the seed of a maple tree Experience three seasons: fall, winter, spring Watch the effects of the wind, which moves the maple key, and other things, too! A look at life in the city in all its variety of people, places, activity Features a diverse range of people with a variety of skin colors: young/old; big/small; quiet/busy; working/playing/creating; moving in different ways (walking, running, biking, skateboarding, in wheelchair) Includes different kinds of families (2 moms with 2 kids and a baby on the way; 2 kids and their soccer-playing dad; girl with grandfather; working mom, dad at home with baby) Topic is both seasonal and perennial. To round out the non-fiction element, end matter provides maple key facts. Both large and small, wide open and closely detailed, WHIRL is a warm, accessible look at a wonder of nature and the everyday cycles and unexpected events that shape our lives."--Provided by publisher.