Tag: snow

Hooray for Snowy Days! (Susan Kantor)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Hooray for Snowy Days!, written by Susan Kantor and illustrated by Katya Longhi, a sweet and wintery board book from the creators of Here Comes Fall!

When snow days arrive, there’s plenty to celebrate: hats, mittens, and sturdy boots; going sledding, making snowmen and snow angels; sipping delicious hot cocoa and going for a sleigh ride. But best of all is sharing all these snow day activities with the ones closest to us!

Another sweet and simple yet thoroughly charming board book from Kantor and Longhi, starring the same cast of woodland friends from Here Comes Fall! Once again, there’s nothing here that breaks the mold: a cast of cuddly forest critters scamper through a snowy landscape and partake in festive seasonal activities. And again, this basic premise is done very well by the author and illustrator: Kantor’s rhyming text is bouncy, well-metered and enjoyable to read aloud, and Longhi’s illustrations are cheerful, warm, and undeniably sweet. No holidays are alluded to in this one, making this a nice nondenominational wintertime tale for very small bookworms. It’s a great length for a quick read, and JJ loved the artwork and snowy-day activities. Overall, a simple and familiar subject covered with obvious affection and joy, and absolutely work a look. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Making A Friend (Tammi Sauer)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Making A Friend, written by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Alison Friend, an adorable story about finding friendship.

Beaver is wonderful at making things: toy airplanes and dinosaurs, a lodge with a waterslide, even cozy socks. The only thing he can’t seem to make is a friend. With sincere gestures, he tries hard to befriend his fellow woodland creatures. It always backfires, however – his gifts never fail to unintentionally insult or upset the others. One snowy day, he decides to build himself a friend from the frosty stuff, striking the interest of a raccoon passing by. The raccoon points out that the construction would better succeed with two, and offers to help. The two spend the day building their snow-friend, eventually creating a creature with pizazz… but who doesn’t seem very interested in interacting. The two sit down to bemoan how difficult it is to build a friendship, then suddenly realize that they may have just happened upon the blueprints.

Pure charm. The story is adorable, displaying a classic sensibility the adds in some clever beats of humor and pathos, and warm yet snappy dialogue to keep it feeling fresh. The illustrations are colorful, full of energy and adorable, emotive characters. The length is perfect, and JJ loved it – she even learned what a beaver was! A lovely winter-themed tale of friendship that’s perfect for any storytime, and we recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

Snow Beast Comes To Play (Phil Gosier)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Snow Beast Comes To Play by Phil Gosier, a fun story about not judging by appearances.

Little girl Penny absolutely loves the snow, and looks forward to it every year. There’s another type of creature that does as well: the snow beasts, who only wake up during the snowy months each year. But while most of the snow beasts are content to simply nap or compare foot size, one lonely snow beast is hoping for something different this year – he wants to make a friend. Sliding down the mountain to the land of humans, he does his best to politely make friends with the people he finds… only to have them run screaming from his giant stature and booming voice. Penny is initially scared as well, but seeing the dejected Snow Beast, all his overtures of friendship failed, she decides to give the monster a chance. And sure enough, she may have finally found someone who loves the snow just as much as her.

Cheerful and cute. The plot is a tad formulaic, and the ending surprisingly quick – I was expecting a bigger ending, especially with the way the townspeople were whispering about the Beast after their encounters – but the overall charm of the story and illustrations make this easy to overlook. The Snow Beast himself is especially cute, with his wide, friendly grin and expressive gestures. The length is good, and JJ enjoyed it. A short, simple, winter-themed lesson in making friends, and we enjoyed it. Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

First Snow (Nancy Viau)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is First Snow, written by Nancy Viau and illustrated by Talitha Shipman, a lovely celebration of wintertime fun.

The first snow of the year has come, and covered a quiet neighborhood in a white, crisp blanket of the stuff. A little boy helps his younger sister put on her cold weather gear and mittens, then the two and their exuberant pup head outside to meet up with friends. As the snowflakes continue to flurry down, the children engage in all manner of classic snow-day activities: snow angels, snowball fights, sledding, and so on. The group plays merrily until the sun begins to set, then the siblings and their dog head back inside for hot cocoa and bedtime, but not before enjoying the unique, stunning calm of a moonlit snowy night.

Simple and sweet. Playful rhymes, adorable illustrations, and overall sense of joy and wonder combine to perfectly capture the thrill of a snow day through the eyes of children. From there, small details – such as the diverse cast, the care the older brother shows for his little sister, and the seamless transition from daytime snow activities to the unearthly wonder of a snow-covered world at night – make the book a treat from cover to cover. The length is great, and JJ loved it. A perfect story to get kids excited for winter, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this books was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.)

When It Snows (Richard Collingridge)

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Merry Christmas, friends! We are celebrating with the last book in our holiday countdown, When It Snows by Richard Collingridge. This gorgeous fable tells the story of the journeys a young boy makes into a world of magic each snowfall.

Whenever the snow falls, the little boy and his faithful teddy bear begin their journey. They walk past the frozen cars and trains, following the footprints to the beautiful open fields, crisp and white with snow and filled with joyful children. They travel past the land of snowmen, on into the dark night and through the shadowy forest, led by a single floating light by which to see. They are greeted by the queen of the forest and hundreds of elves, who take them to see a very special friend, a familiar figure in a jolly red suit…

AMAZING. We were blown away by Collingridge’s Lionheart last year, so we couldn’t wait to read When It Snows, and it was even better than we had imagined. Spare, lyrical text invites the reader along on a magical winter adventure, brought to life through the jaw-droppingly enchanting illustrations, leading to a final page so unexpected and perfect that it made me gasp with delight as we read. The length is great, and JJ and I both adored it. This is a stunning book, both in art and story, and would be a wonderful addition to any child’s library. We highly recommend it, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!