Submitted by Sue from Leonardtown!
Anna’s Wish, by Bruno Hachler and illustrated by Friederike Rave, is the story of a little girl who has never seen or felt snow. She can only imagine how it feels as she listens to her mother tell about how she played in the snow a very long time ago. Then one day, as Anna passes by a bakery window, she sees a little white horse standing on a cake. The horse is covered with crystals, sugar that sparkles. Did he wink at me she wonders? Suddenly Anna feels something very soft and cold touch her cheek. What was it? That night Anna wishes harder than anything she has ever wished for before. She wishes for snow. This is a sweet and wishful story describing every child’s desire to see, to feel, to play and to dream of the magic of snow. The illustrations are rich in detail and encompass most of the page with coloring book pictures. See this book listed in our catalog
Weather
The Big Storm
Submitted by Tammy, driver of the WoW van!
The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book by Nancy Tafuri. Count along from 1 to 10 as Bird, Mouse, Rabbit, and their friends take shelter from a storm. This book describes a storm, from the dark black clouds gathering, to the wind blowing, leaves swirling, lightning cracking, rain falling, and the rumble of thunder. Children will enjoy counting the animals as they gather in the hill hollow to take cover from the fast approaching storm. The animals find they are all safe together for the night as they wait for the storm to past, but who else is hiding in the hill hollow with them? And what will the animals find when they come out of the hollow after the storm is over? See this book listed in our catalog
Snow
Submitted by Allana from Leonardtown!
Snow by Cynthia Rylant. Before you open this book, you may want to put on a jacket, and maybe a hat and some gloves, because as you read this lovely book, you’ll feel like diving into a pile of snow. You may also feel the urge to make snow angels, or engage in a snowball fight! Using simple but flowing language, Cynthia Rylant has created a wonderful wintry scene, and the illustrations, although chilly and icy in appearance, will warm your heart. “The best snow is the snow that comes softly in the night like a shy friend… this is the snow that brings you peace.” One of my favorite illustrations is the one with all the children’s faces at the window, with snowflakes billowing around creating a frosty frame. Gorgeous! I love the contrasting images of the cozy inside with the glittering landscape of snow covered hills and trees outside. This is a wonderful book for any season! See this book listed in our catalog
A Penguin Story
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
In A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis we meet Edna, who is tired of the lack of diversity in the palette of her Arctic home. Everything is either white (like the snow and ice), black (like the night or the feathers of her friends), or blue (like the ocean and the fish that swim in it). There must be more to life than things which are white, black, or blue! So Edna goes in search of a different color, and boy does she find it: orange! As in the orange of scientists and their jumpsuits, tents, and equipment! Edna realizes the world is much bigger than the small glacier she inhabits, and wonders what other colors could be out there.
The Clouds Above
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
I love The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane. It could be Where the Wild Things Are for a new generation. Simon, and his cat Jack, while trying to avoid their despicable teacher “Missus Poe,” find a mysterious staircase leading to seemingly no where from the roof of their school. Of course, they decide to climb it, and at the top they find a cloud named Perch (the birds named him). Perch decides to fly them somewhere warmer, and so begins their adventure. This is a really fun story for any fans of weather, cats, and running away from school!