Review by Booklist Review
Quiet, charming, and just plain fun, little ones eager for winter will relate to this story's snow-loving characters. When a collection of animal friends Badger, Hedgehog, Rabbit, Vole, and Possum get impatient for winter to arrive, the various tricks and superstitions they attempt may provoke giggles and smiles among readers. From banging pots and pans to wake up the sky to sleeping with their cozy pajamas on backwards, the friends' frustrations escalate when the stubborn snow still does not fall. Badger in particular is impatient, and the friends band together to give him a sweet surprise they sprinkle sugar over his doorway when he emerges in the morning but it pales in comparison to the real thing. Wise Hedgehog joins in the fun, though he's the lone voice of reason, emphasizing the continuous, cyclical nature of the seasons and the importance of patience. But how long can these friends wait, and when will it snow? Kiddos eager for the changing of seasons will easily find kinship among these antsy woodland creatures in this engaging story perfect for a winter-themed storytime.--Greengoss, Annie Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Badger wants it to snow: it's winter, so it should be snowing. Hedgehog is a creature of faith. "It will snow in snow's time," he tells Badger. "All we have to do is wait." Badger can't wait and, with the help of friends who are ready and willing to support their pal, tries to get it to snow. They throw pebbles at the sky, dance, and put their pajamas on backward, all to no avail. Liwska's (The Quiet Book) gentle, fuzzy drawings, done in the softest browns and the palest blues, offer the comfort of a beloved stuffed toy. Her creatures are free to play and experiment as they wish, and, after they've exhausted every possibility, a collection of vignettes shows the animals learning patience as they find other things to do until, at last, flakes begin to drift down. Using Hedgehog as the even-keeled voice of reason, Arnold (Lost. Found.) suggests that there is something to be said for accepting a situation rather than fighting it. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Five young woodland friends grow impatient in anticipation of a snowfall. Hedgehog, Badger, Rabbit, Vole, and Possum combine efforts to bring on the flakes. Neither banging pots and pans, tossing pebbles at the sky, wearing backward pajamas, nor taking part in an elegant snow dance does the trick. The friends even try to make their own snow, sifting powdered sugar off the roof, but tell themselves that things "always come in their time." After distracting themselves with hopscotch, yo-yos, naps, and paper airplanes, they finally wake after a slumber party to find a field that's perfect for making snowballs. The digitally colored drawings rely on a somewhat dark but textured palette of soft grays, browns, and blues to reflect the season, and Liwska's critters are adorably rounded. Details such as an assortment of hats, including a shower cap for Vole, make merriment to alleviate the tension. VERDICT A super tonic for the winter blahs, suitable for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
It's winter and I haven't seen one snowflake," says Badger. The forest animals try to summon snow by banging pots, wearing pajamas backward, and performing a snow dance. Hedgehog wisely reminds them, "It will snow in snow's time." Soft-hued, digitally colored pencil illustrations convey the animals' valiant efforts (even sprinkling sugar for snow) in the child-friendly text until finally, after much waiting, "it was time. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Small woodland animals try to conjure snow.Badgers frustrated because even though its winter, theres nary a snowflake. His friend, philosophical Hedgehog, counsels that snow will come in snows time, the same way crocus bulbs sprout every spring and the sun comes back every daybut Badger cant bear to wait. He drags pots and pans from his house and bangs on them. It doesnt summon snow, but it does bring three more friends: Rabbit, Vole, and Possum. Together they throw pebbles at the sky (Pebbles rained down. Snow didnt) and dance a snow dance in couples (They stomped and rocked. They bopped and boogied. They whirled and swirled). The animals are anthropomorphicusing bowls and spoons, writing on slates with chalk, knitting, playing banjo and fiddle, and paring potatoesyet they are for the most part unclothed and can sleep outdoors when they choose. With soothing, low-saturation colors and soft crosshatchings, Liwska subtly blends outdoors and indoors: an indoor disco ball references stars, while a classroom rug looks very grasslike. Delicate pencil lines show scenes as simultaneously earnest and funny, as when Badger calculates snow at an outdoor desk while Hedgehog runs an overhead projector or Badgers bedroomhes wearing his pajamas backward to induce snowwith a toy animal and bookend turned toward the wall and a lamp upside-down. Snow cant be forced, but this will help ease the wait. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
