Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Into the Snow by Yuki Kaneko, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito

I wrote this review as I looked at several inches of snow (and falling) outside my window. Perfect!

A small child enjoys the wonders of the snow. In first person narrative, they get dressed, grab their sled, and enter the snowy world. They build snowballs and find icicles, ride their sled in an exuberance of delight, and finally, wet and cold, return home. The wonderful day ends with warm cocoa.

The simple text captures the beauty and excitement of snow for a small child, the thrill of sledding, and the exploration of a frozen world. Saito’s art is not my usual preference, being more conceptual and splashy, with few to no lines, but it caught my interest and I fell in love. Against the white background are colorful splashes of rich, textured color. The child’s hat, the yellow sled, splashes of red and pink berries on the snow, and the child’s green coat and pink cheeks. Movement of the child and snow are shown in swirling lines of color and splashes of white snow.

Verdict: This isn’t your typical snow and seasons book. A small child’s delight in the snow is perfectly captured in stunning art and simple text. Perfect for toddler and preschool storytimes, to spur conversations about snow, and inspire children to paint their own snow masterpieces. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781592701889; Published 2016 by Enchanted Lion; Purchased for the library

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