Tracks, shadows, the rumple of the wind, Traces explores clues that are hidden or left behind in the natural world. Fox is an acclaimed novelist, and her poetic text combines gentle rhythm with precise, evocative description. “Something, someone is just here. Now there’s barely a trace of it” is used repeatedly. A bullfrog is “plump, wattled, warty, croaking.” Kuskin’s mixed-media artwork uses rich, earthy tones and ample white space to create a feeling of space and serenity. It marries perfectly with the text to create a book that’s literature for the very young.