snow day
Filed Under Stuff | December 17, 2008
In light of the cool temperatures and the snow on the ground with more to come, we thought this was the perfect time to share a list of books from local children’s librarian Helen Moore about all that winter weather entails – from layers of clothes, to lost mittens, to the wonder of a child’s first sight of snow. And not one of these books goes for over $10, which means they’re also seasonal for your pocketbook.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
A wordless tale about a young boy who builds a snowman in the morning and wakes later that night to find his frosty friend has come alive, that’s full of magic and enchantment. Be forewarned that very sensitive souls might melt into tears at the ending. Jaded or oblivious preschoolers may, however, make it through unscathed.
Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A groundbreaking and award-winning book when it was published in the 1960s, this book depicts an African-American boy’s delight when he wakes to find his urban neighbourhood enveloped in a blanket of snow.
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Kids will love the cartoon-style pictures and onomatopoeic sounds effects as Froggy laboriously puts on his socks, boots and hat (zoop, zup, zat!) for some adventures in the snow. But Poor Froggy has forgotten his pants, his shirt, his coat and…how embarrassing…even his underwear! By the time he’s finally dressed, Froggy is ready to head back to bed to sleep the winter away.
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Mitten is a superb reworking of an old Ukrainian folktale. Nicki accidentally drops one of his hand-knit mitts when he’s frolicking in the snow. Various animals squeeze into the mitten, seeking shelter from the cold, until the mitten is stretched almost to breaking point. And then a wee mouse happens along. Kids will love following the action, both in the main pictures and in a parallel story on the sidebars.
Helen Moore is yoyomama’s kiddie lit correspondent. Helen is a local children’s librarian who is the past Chair of the Canadian Library Association Amelia Picture Book Award. She loves to bring home books from any library to share with her two young sons, ages two and four.
Leave a Comment
Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
