When the Snow Falls

July 15, 2017
A snowy afternoon prompts a sled ride back to town through the countryside for a grandmother visiting her family. On the morning after Grandma's sleepover, the blizzard results in a snow day, allowing the two young grandchildren to accompany Grandma to her town house via a homemade chair sled. Grandma is quite the strong, energetic elder as they make their way through the snowy woods and onto the busy, buried streets of her neighborhood. Two-word sentences in abcb rhyme patterns, one stanza per page, tell this seasonal story with a cadence that captures both the captivating beauty of a glistening wood and the snowy dunes of a blanketed city street. "When the snow falls.... // Woods hush. / Fields glisten. / Wren sings. / We listen"; "When the snow falls... / Trains toot. / Cars slow. / Plows push. / Mountains grow." After everyone helps Grandpa, waiting back at home, to shovel and dig out, it's time for sledding, snow angels, and snowmen in the park, followed by warm soup, cocoa, and cuddles. Digitally colored and assembled pencil drawings offer wintry rural and urban scenes in icy blues and whites. This mixed-race happy family's enjoyment of all the fun and exertion a snowstorm bring spills from each double-page spread. Grandpa is the only white family member; everyone else has skin of varying shades of warm brown and tightly curled hair. A heartwarming adventure rolls along in a delightful rhythmic verse. (Picture book. 3-5)

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October 2, 2017
Sweeney and Christy follow their spring-themed 2015 picture book, When the Wind Blows, with an ode to winter that hums with a zingy, excited energy. Once again, Sweeney’s punchy rhymes provide the narrative, following two children through a day outdoors with their grandparents. There’s a visit to the nearby forest (“Woods hush./ Fields glisten./ Wren sings./ We listen”), walkways to shovel (“Flakes zag./ Flakes zig./ Grandpa whistles./ We dig”), and sledding to be done (“Saucers spin./ Sleds slide./ Hats fly./ We ride!”). Icy pale blues and purples contrast with brightly colored winter wear and the children’s warm brown skin; everyone is smiling, even citizens helping to push a stuck car. A joyful winter readaloud with an infectious enthusiasm for everything that the season brings. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Carrie Hannigan, Hannigan Salky Getzler. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates.

December 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-For many people, a windstorm might be reason to stay inside safe and sound. However, the family in this book looks at a windy day as an adventurous day for kite-flying fun. Simple, rhythmic two-word phrases appear on each page in four-line stanza. "When the wind blows" repeats every three stanzas to create a dependable structure in this poetic text. Strong verbs such as "whistles," "flicker," "swish," and "clang" allow readers to experience the blustery day with sounds, feeling, and imagery. The rhythm of the book seems to mimic the steady blow of the wind on each page. Young readers will enjoy following the story in the supporting gorgeous watercolor images as they watch the winds pick up speed, sending the family on a wild chase trying to catch their kite, and making a groom lose his hat on his wedding day. Older readers can dive deep into the rich language of each page. This story line spans multiple pages, and readers will enjoy looking for the hat and kite throughout the book. Each illustration supports the text with each noun appearing in the image with many additional details, which can offer young readers an "I spy" opportunity on each page. As the rain and wind pick up, the family makes its way back inside to the familiar routines of getting ready for bed. This book will be a great bedtime story, and educators will appreciate the descriptive language when teaching creative writing and poetry. A welcome addition to collections.-Andy Plemmons, David C. Barrow Elementary, Athens, GA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
After Grandma sleeps over, a (mixed-race) family wakes on their farm to an unexpected snow day. Delightful eight-word, four-line stanzas evoke wintry images, sensations, and activities as Grandma takes the two siblings sledding and they get hot chocolate with Grandpa in town ("Cocoa warms. / Mittens puddle. / Day dawdles. / We cuddle"). Digitized mixed-media illustrations ably depict the children's exuberant play.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Three generations of a fun-loving family take advantage of an unexpected snow day to frolic from country to city. When Grandma spends the night at the home of two young siblings, they awake to find that school is canceled due to a snowstorm. While the parents stay home to work the farm, Grandma, a young girl, and her little brother ski to town on a winsome belled sled-chair. They make their way to Grandma and Grandpa's house and encounter natural wonders, city wonders, and friends along the way. Sweeney gives a sense of motion with simple rhyming quatrains punctuated by the recurring phrase, "When the snow falls .... Tracks curve./Skis glide./Fox curls./Rabbits hide." The transition from country to city occurs when they briefly stop on a bridge to wave at the plows below, "Trains toot./Cars slow./Plows push./Mountains grow." Softly colorful, the double-page images have the muted quality associated with a snowy day. Christie's digitally painted pencil sketches and mixed-media illustrations bounce with playful motion-snow falling, scarves flying, rabbits hopping through the forest, city folk shoveling. The family members have joyful faces and burst with enthusiasm. Their exuberant dog follows them throughout, even joining the children in making snow angels. The grandparents join in the fun, too. VERDICT Country and city kids alike will relate to this joyful romp celebrating family, snow, community, and the wonders of nature.-Lisa Taylor, Florida State College, Jacksonville

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.