Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
I sometimes think poetry is at it’s best when it’s written and illustrated for children. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman and Pamela Zagarinski is one such example. The illustrations capture the metaphors of a world changing with the seasons, and the poem is simply beautiful. In the poem, Joyce
I certainly hope there is not snow in the coming 48 hours, but in honor of one last crazy storm this winter-ish season, here’s one more “snow day” book that Raisin and I enjoyed. It’s one that would be fun any time of year. Zoo Flakes ABC by Will Howell is a fabulous ABC art
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a book and a movie (Gene Wilder) that I have found memories of when I was a child. Charlie is about a child who has nothing and wins everything. He first gets the coveted golden ticket. He gets a lifetime supply of chocolate and a tour
Snow Day Dance by Will Hubbell (published 2005) is not the most exciting story, but it captures the magic of a realistic snowy world. In the beginning, children watch the snow falling from their classroom in school, all secretly hoping that the snow will cause school to be canceled. Their teacher encourages them, saying that they
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (published 1978) is a wordless picture book capturing the creation and life of another best-friend snowman. The unnamed boy spends hours making his snowman perfect, then in the night has hours of adventures. With some prompting, my son can tell me the story, and each time it’s a little different, which
Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright (illustrated by Stephen Gilpin; published 2010) is a new winter favorite. We’ve all heard of Frosty, but how many know about Sneezy? He just can’t stop his sniffles, so the children try to help him. But every time, he gets too warm, and must call out from the puddle of
Frosty the Snowman, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey (published 1993), provides the words to the familiar song with beautiful, large illustrations. I particularly dislike the movie and the Little Golden Book for Frosty the Snowman. (Particularly, I don’t like the little girl hopping on a train car with a snowman bit…) But my son loves the story,
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London (published 1992) is definitely not a favorite of mine (and I despise the others in the series), but given my son’s love of it, it is a perfect book to include on a snowy day book list. Froggy wakes up one winter morning and wants to play in the snow, despite his mother’s reminder
In the Snow by Hu Voun Lee (published 1995) is not a book I expected my son to enjoy so much, but he did. A mother writes Chinese characters in the snow, teaching her young son what the characters mean. Since my son is learning his letters, I think he was fascinated by the concept of
Snow by Uri Shulevitz (published 1998) is a magical snow day book. In the midst of a gray world, a little boy sees a snowflake. He calls out, “Snow!” but the adults in the town disbelieve him, apparently hoping he is wrong. By the end, the snow has covered the town and the boy is dancing
I have special memories of Robert Frost’s Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening (written in 1923) and the picture book illustrated by Susan Jeffers (published 1978) is a beautiful rendition. I love how reading or reciting this poem is calming. It reads like I really am stopping in abandoned snow-covered woods for a breath. It’s
The illustrations to Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire are quaint color pencil, which matches the folktale-like subject matter. They don’t wow me as other Caldecott winners do, but as the 1940 Medal Winner, I think the art in d’Aulaires’ biography about Lincoln are sufficiently award-worthy. Abraham Lincoln reads like a novel; it was easy
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