Babies & Books
Pip & Squeak
Pip and Squeak, two mice, have been invited to a birthday party for their friend Gus, and their gift, a lump of cheese, is wrapped with a bow. But a huge snow has fallen, and getting to the party isn't easy: sliding on a letter, walking the tightrope of a clothesline. It's only later that Squeak notices that Pip has forgotten the cheese. Now what? There are a few items that seem like possible gifts. Would Gus like the plastic pink flamingo buried in the snow? Finally, the mice spot a carrot functioning as a snowman's nose; at least they can carry it. Pip thinks Gus won't like it, but in a surprise ending, Gus (a bunny), likes it very much. This simple yet clever story gets literal breadth by its spacious design. Several of the spreads are taken up by snowy landscapes. Some feature close-ups from unexpected angles, and everything is designed to show things from a mouse's perspective. Schoenherr's draftsmanship is quite fine; Pip and Squeak look like real mice, albeit adventurous ones. ~Booklist, amazon.com
The Hat
When Lisa's woolen stocking flies off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and pokes his nose in. He tries to pull it out, but the stocking gets stuck on his prickles -- and the fun begins. A mother hen comes by, then a noisy goose, a talkative barn cat, a playful farm dog, a mama pig and her piglets, and a pony. They all laugh at Hedgie, especially when he pretends he's wearing a new hat. But in the end, it is clever Hedgie who has the last laugh. And where is Lisa when all of this is going on? She's in the borders, getting ready for winter, until she realizes her stocking is missing and she enters the story to look for it. Jan Brett's luminous paintings of a Scandinavian farm and the forest around it are bathed in northern light, as the snow begins to fall and the story begins, in this delightfully original companion book to The Mitten. ~amazon.com
Snow Mouse
With the same tender charm that has made other books about Mouse's first experiences popular, Thompson and Erdogan explore the joy that comes with a first encounter with snow. Mouse gets to sled, skate, and build a grand snow house with his father's unswerving support. Good for you! exclaims Poppa after Mouse swishes down a hill. Other efforts are encouraged with Hooray!, Good work!, and Wonderful! Finally the two build A frosty little snow mouse just like you! and the book concludes with wishes for a Happy winter. In the sweet acrylic paintings, the snow is cool and luminous, yet the scenes remain warm. Child-friendly language, complete with some simple sound effects and repeated phrases, make this title a solid winter read-aloud. ~ School Library Journal, amazon.com
Snowy Day
The Snowy Day, a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. Keats's illustrations, using cut-outs, watercolors, and collage, are strikingly beautiful in their understated color and composition. The tranquil story mirrors the calm presence of the paintings, and both exude the silence of a freshly snow-covered landscape. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of humble adventures--experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day. Awakening to a winter wonderland is an ageless, ever-magical experience, and one made nearly visceral by Keats's gentle tribute. ~amazon.com
