Review by New York Times Review
Turning the pages of the "Chirri & Chirra" books, imports from Japan, feels like falling into a tiny, exquisite dream. This latest one has a wintertime theme and a mochi-colored palette. The adorableness is off the charts as the rosy-cheeked twins head out on their bikes and find the usual talking animals, sweet treats and other early childhood wish-fulfillment items (marbles, hand-held lanterns, a shelf of colorful books). This outing, on the first day of snowfall, takes them to an ice structure teeming with fun, then on to a cosy igloo for the night. GOODBYE AUTUMN, HELLO WINTER Written and illustrated by Kenard Pak. 32 pp. Henry Holt. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) Pak's follow-up to "Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn" once again bids adieu to a departing season and greets the new one, delightfully. A girl and a smaller boy walk through the pages saying hello, heading out of fall scenes and into snowy winter ones, listening as trees, birds and animals explain what they're doing to get ready for the cold. Soon, frost and snowflakes are pointing out their roles in the stunning wintertime scenes. Pak's ethereal digital art creates a wintry mood that somehow combines movement with seemingly endless serenity. THE SNOWBEAR By Sean Taylor. Illustrated by Claire Alexander. 32 pp. words & pictures. $17.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) Waking up to snow, a brother and sister rush outside to make a snowman. It turns out to be more of a snowbear - and thankfully so, because they take off down the hill on their sleds and meet a wolf. Their snow creation saves them, then returns to his spot near the house. Naturally their mom doesn't believe them, but the next morning the snowbear is gone. Did he melt, or... ? The story rides the edge between reality and magic with gentle aplomb; Alexander's loose, free-spirited art makes the magic feel quite possible. MICE SKATING By Annie Silvestro. Illustrated by Teagan White. 32 pp. Sterling. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) Field mice are supposed to spend the winter burrowing and huddling underground, but little Lucy would rather be out in the bracing cold. She can't convince her mouse friends to join her, until she finds a way to get them to follow her to the pond for ice skating. Silvestro's simple story is heavy on cheese puns likely to sail past younger listeners, but White's charming illustrations, with their miniaturist sensibility and cosy wood-toned textures, will have little ones hunting through the pages for details of the field-mouse lifestyle and decor. SNOW SCENE By Richard Jackson. Illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. 32 pp. Neal Porter/Roaring Brook. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) This fourth book from the former children's editor Jackson romps around outdoors, its few, coy words inviting readers to look harder at the lovely textured acrylic paintings by Seeger ("First the Egg," Green"), a two-time Caldecott Honor winner. We begin in the deep of winter, when a coat of snow renders everything worthy of a second glance - is that the shadow of a crow? Frost in a girl's hair? Each page turn tells a fuller story. As in life, eventually we're in rich springtime scenes, straightforward as a sunny day. But a final page leaves us, appropriately, with the lingering memory of winter. online An expanded visual presentation of this week's column at nytimes.com/books.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [November 12, 2017]
Review by Booklist Review
When Iggy and Martine go out on a snowy morning, Mom cautions them to be careful of the steep, slippery hill. They build a snowman, but decide that he looks more like a happy snow bear. Then, despite their mother's warning, the kids pile onto their sled and slide fast down the hill and into the woods. Unable to climb the slippery slope, they find themselves staring at a wolf with eyes cold as icicles. Suddenly, the snow bear speeds down the hill, frightens the wolf, and carries the children home. An English writer with many picture books to his credit, Taylor writes with a storyteller's flair and ends the tale with a bit of mystery about the bear's disappearance the next day, letting listeners decide whether he melted or left to live in the woods. Alexander's crayonlike drawings add a childlike sensibility and a pleasing spontaneity to the scenes, tinted with washes of color that show up particularly well in the snowy landscapes. A wonderful choice for winter read-aloud sessions.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After an overnight snowfall, siblings Iggy and Martina head out into the snow and build a towering snowbear. "He looks happy to be made," Martina remarks. "And it was true." When the children ignore their mother's advice and sled down the hill, they go faster and farther than they planned, winding up deep in the forest where a wolf awaits. Just in time, though, the snowbear springs to life, scares away the wolf, and brings them back home. Alexander gives the children big round heads and expressive dot eyes colored in scribbly black crayon-there's a childlike looseness to her scenes that, along with the tension built into Taylor's understated narration, brings a sense of wonder and magic to the story. Ages 3-5. Illustrator's agent: Jodie Hodges, United Agents. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Siblings Iggy and Martina attempt to make a snowman. The children decide that the snowman looks more like a snowbear. They are content with their creation. After taking a ride down a steep hill, they encounter a wolf and don't know what to do next. Their snowbear comes to the rescue and gets them home safely. The text in this book is placed against a snowy white backdrop, making it easy to read. The dialogue pairs with the narration well. The illustrations are drawn in a cartoon style, and the bright snow-white background draws readers' focus to characters though a color contrast. The book uses light to communicate safety and darkness to communicate danger and mystery. Shadows are often used to give characters and scenery a three-dimensional effect. This book has themes of friendship, teamwork, and invention. When the snowbear is gone the next day, the children speculate about his whereabouts. VERDICT An atmospheric seasonal read-aloud for storytimes and one-on-one sharing.-Deanna Smith, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY © Copyright 2017. 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.
