Friends in the Snow

Text: Daniel Postgate

Illustrations: Sam Childs

Year: 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN: 978 1 40711 539 9

Here’s another delightful book that celebrates a child’s unique ability to imagine much like Bruno’s Box. I liked this book also because it encourages children to explore their creative instincts and to be bold about their expressions. 

Brave little Lucy is startled by the white monster on the stark white bedroom wall. After failing to ignore the monster’s grunts and howls, she befriends him and takes him for a walk to discover new friends.

The adventure doesn't end … :-)

Excerpt

The penguin looked north, south, east and west.

He saw that Lucy was quite right, there was nothing but white.

“Then I’m King of Nothing,” said the penguin. “And Nothing will have to do.”

The Dark, Dark Night

Text: M. Christina Butler

Illustrations: Jane Chapman

Year: 2008

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84506 637 6

This book is an endearing comedy of errors which features five good friends – Badger, Rabbit, Hedgehog, Dormouse and Frog.

Frog has just woken up from a long winter sleep and in his excitement, he sets off a series of mishaps caused by ‘shadow monsters!’

This ought to be a good book for little ones who are afraid of the dark.

Excerpt

Frog was very excited. All winter he had been asleep under a stone, and now it was spring, he was on his way back to the pond.

Pooh’s Sled Ride

Text: Isabel Gaines

Illustrations: Studio Orlando

Year: 2000

Publisher: Random House Children's Books, USA

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 38

Book Type: Picture Book, Reading for beginners

ISBN:  978 0 73641 159 3

This book belongs to the Winnie the Pooh First Reader series designed to encourage and engage young readers to learn to read through the adventures of beloved Pooh.

It’s a beautiful winter morning. So Pooh, Christopher Robin and the rest of the friends decide to go sledding.

They have a wonderful time going down the big hill except for Piglet. He falls off. Not once but three times. They try placing him in different places but fail to keep him. Finally, Christopher asks him to sit in the middle. So they hold on tightly and he has a gleeful ride down the hill.

Excerpt

They all piled onto Christopher Robin’s sled.

Piglet hung on to Tigger’s tail at the very back.

Down, down they went.

“Wee!” They laughed and giggled.

It’s Snowing!

By Olivier Dunrea

Year: 2010

Publisher: Square Fish, New York

Age: 6 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 31260 216 1

The first snowfall is often a magical and momentous time for most of us. This book is a tender narrative of a mother’s delight at introducing her baby to her first snowfall. The text and illustrations are enchanting.

Excerpt

“Baby, taste the snow!”

Baby opens his mouth.

“Baby, touch the snow!”

Baby flies into the air.

Let’s go home, Little Bear!

Text: Martin Waddell

Illustrations: Barbara Firth

Year: 1991 (2005)

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84428 492 4

This delightfully, charming story of Little Bear and Big Bear walking back home through snow makes for imaginative reading.

Little Bear thinks he hears a Plodder when Big Bear explains is the sound of his feet in the snow. He then hears a Dripper which turns out to be ice dripping into the stream. They encounter many more sounds until they reach home. Big Bear tucks Little Bear into a warm blanket and weaves a story of
Plodders, Drippers and Ploppers until both are fast asleep.

Excerpt

“I thought I heard something!” Little Bear said.

“What did you hear?” said Big Bear.

“Drip, drip, drip,” said Little Bear. “I think it’s a Dripper!”

Kipper’s Snowy Day

By Mick Inkpen, Wikipedia

Year: 1996

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 34093 210 0

This book is about the delightfully charming duo of playful puppies, Kipper (Wikipedia) and Tiger.

It’s snowing and that makes it just the perfect day for fun and frolic. They roll down the hill and make a giant snowdog dressed up with Tiger’s clothes.

They are thrilled to discover more snow the next day and the next. And so, their work of pristine puppy art stands for almost three whole weeks.

Excerpt

Kipper charged down the hill.

‘Are you all right, Tiger?’ he panted.

Tiger pulled off his silly, woolly hat.

A big grin spread across his face.

‘Again!’ he said.

Little Deer Lost

Text: Janet Bingham

Illustrations: Rosalind Beardshaw

Year: 2011

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40711 0 400

Silver and Sparkle, a couple of little fawns are ecstatic at their very first snowfall. The snow turns out to be everything their mom promised it would be – cold, soft and beautiful. They play, race each other, roll and slide on the snow until they find themselves lost. Suddenly, the snow feels cold, heavy and very deep.

After a while though, their mum finds them and the magic is renewed.

Excerpt

Soon the sky was full of snowflakes. Silver chased them, and Sparkle flicked them with her tail.

As the snow settled, Silver kicked up little flurries, and Sparkle made patterns with her footprints.

After a while the snowflakes stopped falling, and Silver and Sparkle gazed around. A blanket of snow lay over everything. 

Noodle’s Knitting

Text: Sheryl Webster

Illustrations: Caroline Pedler

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 093 1

This heartwarming story of friendship, love and sacrifice makes for a great reading experience.

Noodle, an industrious little mouse, longs to knit. She manages to lay her hands on a lovely ball of wool.

She knits, all day long and soon she has a scarf ready for herself and her friends to tuck into during the long, cold winter.

The illustrations are exceptionally adorable. Our baby loved this book because of the soft-to-touch velvety texture on every page.

Excerpt

Pitter patter went her paws, clickety click went her needles. On and on she danced, singing merrily,

“One plain, one purl, one twisk, one twirl!”

She was enjoying herself so much she didn't even notice her knitting catch on a prickle …

Goose on the Loose

Text: Claire Freedman

Illustrations: Vanessa Cabban

Year: 2003

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85430 893 9

Little Gooseberry is learning to fly. Despite a few bumps along the road, he persists, bolstered by the autumn winds and his friends’ encouragement.

He also notices that while he’s practicing great loops in the air, his friends - Beaver, Red Squirrel, Mouse and Hare are scampering around to prepare for the impending winter. He feels he needs to get ready too.

His parents remind him that geese fly to warmer lands during winter. He’s been preparing for winter, after all! 

Excerpt

Suddenly, a little chilly breeze ruffled Gooseberry’s feathers. He began to fee a teeny bit worried. 

Winter was coming!

Everyone was preparing for it – except him.

Perhaps he had better hurry up and do something – before it was too late. 

When the snow comes

By Jonathan Allen

Year:  2010

Publisher: Boxer Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 90796 713 9

This enchanting story of the first snowfall of the season is also our very first book on yaks. :-) They look adorable in this book.

As Little Yak prepares for his very first winter, we get a glimpse into all the different ways in which his friends prepare for the cold. The Pika stores up grass, Bear hibernates and Blue Thrush flies away to his warm winter home.

Little Yak is grateful that he can withstand the icy winter, thanks to his shaggy coat, and enjoy the snowfall surrounded by his mother's warmth.

Excerpt

“Well, what do yaks do when the snow comes?” asked Little Yak.

“We stay right where we are,” said Mum. “our thick shaggy coats keep us warm.. And little yaks snuggle up close to their mums.”

Henry’s Holiday

Text: Gillian Shields

Illustrations: Rosie Reeve

Year: 2009

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Book, London

Age: 3 - 7 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 23073 633 7

Books that feature penguins on ice are always welcome. :-)

Meet Henry, a sweet little penguin who dreams of living on a tropical island because he just feels too cold on the ice!

His wish is fulfilled but he soon misses the love and friendship at home and, of course, the icy chill!

Excerpt

The island was full of palm trees and coconuts and pineapples. Everything was bright and warm and colorful. Henry was DELIGHTED.

But when he waddled up the beach, the sand wasn't soft and smooth and slippery like the snow.

Sam’s Snowflake

Text: Gillian Shields

Illustrations: Rosie Reeve

Year: 2008

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Age: 2 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, paperback

ISBN: 978 0 23053 178 9

This is a gentle Christmas story that explores the deep bond that children forge with their dads.

Little Sam can’t wait to do fun things with his dad but he’s gone away to ‘fetch a special Christmas surprise’.

As Christmas Eve slowly fades into a cold, dark night Sam worries that his dad might get lost. He makes a glittery star that he puts up at the highest window to guide his father back home.

The book offers a gentle opportunity to explain to little ones, especially those prone to separation anxiety that parents come back. 

Oh yes, there’s a generous smattering of glitter through the pages too! :-)

Excerpt

Sam couldn't wait for the snow to come.

Every Christmas, Dad helped him to make a snow bear, took him toboganning and played roly-poly snowball fights. 

It was a Cold, Dark Night

By Tim Hopgood

Year: 2010

Publisher: Collins Big Cat, London

Age:  4 - 6 years       

No. of Pages: 16

ISBN:  978 0 00732 922 9

Book Type: Picture book, Nature

This guided reading book from Collins Big Cat is a short, warm story of Ned, a hedgehog, who is in need of a home to snooze in during winter.

The leaves are falling fast, the wind is blowing colder and most homes have been taken. Ned finds the perfect place, finally, with some help from the bats.

Excerpt

It was a cold, dark night and the wind was blowing.

The hedgehog looked up at the old barn.

The bats said, “This is our home. But look down, Ned!”

Gruff the Grump

Author: Steve Smallman

Illustrator: Cee Biscoe

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-56148-669-4

Now here’s a beautiful story with brilliant illustrations that make you want to frame up a couple of pages to hang on the wall.

This tender story about a grumpy bear discovering kindness and eventually, happiness in his lonely existence is bound to evoke feelings of empathy amongst young readers.

The story is narrated extremely well. It’s not poetry but you almost want it to be. Don’t be surprised if your children pick up a few sentences and repeat them like rhymes. But then, it isn’t a rhyme, either.

I must say, meaningful stories (for children) like this are rare and a find like this ought to be treasured.

Excerpt

Gruff was a bear.

A great big bear.

A great big, scowly, growly, grizzly grump of a bear.

He lived all alone in a musty, dusty old cave where nobody ever came to visit. The other animals hid when they saw him coming. They called him, ‘Gruff the Grump’.

“HUMPH!” went Gruff the Grump to show he didn’t care. 

I am Reading: Princess Rosa’s Winter

Author: Judy Hindley

Illustrator: Margaret Chamberlain

Year: 1997

Publisher: Kingfisher Publications, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 50

ISBN: 978 0 75341 038 9

It’s a tale of long ago in a land where winter is a dark time. Princess Rosa feels grumpy with the weather and it looks like nothing will bring cheer to her or the courtiers in the castle. They try to cheer each other up with memories of warmer times. That doesn’t work either.

The King, then, remembers Hode, their ‘wonderful, winter visitor.’ Soon everyone is on their feet, dancing. Princess Rosa, now happy, finds beauty in the winter moon and snow.

I liked this story because it encourages children to look beyond their circumstances and find happiness in what they have.

Don’t Wake Mr. Bear

By Jill Newton

Year: 2011

Publisher: Egmont UK Ltd., London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-1-40524-966-9

Winter is about to arrive at the forest. Dormouse has the squirrels, rabbits and the wood pigs play a soft, soothing forest lullaby so the animals can sleep through the winter.

Just then, a band of loud wolves on holiday pass through and make a rumpus so loud that Mr. Bear is awakened.

And then it’s all boom, crash and bang but not quite the way you imagine it! :-)

I loved the humorous story-line that subtly attempts to teach children about how a forest prepares for winter.  

Excerpt

Out of the car came the wolves’ drums, and their lights, and their speakers.

“Go away!” begged the rabbits. “You’ll wake Mr. Bear!”

“We don’t care about a silly old bear!” sang the wolves.