Do you remember the first time you awoke to find the world all filled with white snow and the quiet that follows a large snowfall? It was beautiful, and its stillness and pristine appearance drew you out into the cold very quickly. This book wonderfully recreates that experience, making us all young again, and helping youngsters appreciate the potential joys of snow. The book has remarkable artwork that combines imaginative snowflake cut-outs with collages of hand-made papers and figure cutouts to make you feel like you've entered a fairy land, which you have.
"Snow had fallen during the night. It covered everything as far as he could see." After breakfast, the boy puts on his snowsuit and is out the door. There are enormous snow piles from where the sidewalks have been cleared. He walks carefully through them. He makes funny shaped tracks in the snow, and admires his handiwork. A stick helps him knock snow out of a tree . . . onto his own head! He thinks about joining the older boys in a snowball fight, but realizes he isn't ready yet. Instead, he draws with a stick in the snow, builds a smiling snowman, makes snow angels, and pretends he is a mountain climber. After scaling the snow piles, he slides down. Before going in to get warm, he makes a snowball and puts it in his pocket. He tells his mother all about his fun while he takes off his wet socks. Soon he is thinking in the tub. Before going to sleep, he checks his snowball. It has melted! He is sad before drifing off. He dreams that all the snow has melted.
Good news! He awakes in the morning to find more snow falling, and heads across the hall to find his friend to go out to play some more after breakfast.
One of the positive elements of the illustrations is that they portray a young man of color in an unselfconscious way. He nicely represents every boy and girl who has ever enjoyed the snow.
I felt a very peaceful feeling after reading the book, as though I had just been out playing in the snow with him and was enjoying being fatigued in the warmth of the house.
This will make a great book to read to youngsters because they will be interested in the illustrations and the activities that are portrayed. With a close matching of illustrations to words, this book will also be helpful in preparing your child to learn to read. I was reminded of Snowflake Bentley as I reviewed the many wonderful snowflake patterns on the pages.
The book is well deserving of its Caldecott Medal for outstanding illustrations.
After you finish, I suggest that you think of ways that the rain, fog, and sunny days can provide magical opportunities for pretend fun, as well. After all, you can't make snow angels every day. But you can use your imagination, always!
Look for the beauty in every moment and in every one!