Snow Is…, by Laura Gehl/Illustrated Sonia Sánchez, (Oct. 2024, Simon & Schuster), $18.99, ISBN: 9781665915595
Ages 3-7
The anticipation of a snowy day comes alive in this rhyming story about the first snowfall of the season. A child looks out the window and watches the flakes fall. Dashing outside, they run back to get their father and dog, and it becomes a family day as Mom and baby sibling join them for snow castles, snowmen, and snowball fights. Sánchez’s illustrations revel in the joy of the first snowfall: the child dances and runs, the father laughing and covered in snow, mother rushing to join the fray, baby tucked safely into a carrier. Gehl’s rhyming story brings all the childish fun to readers, describing everything that snowfall brings to mind: “Snow is the birds huddled close in their nest. / Snow is your heart pounding hard in your chest”; “Snow is bright eyes / and small cheeks / cold and rosy. / Snow is a castle that’s roomy yet cozy”. Cool blues and whites come together with the warm reds of the family’s clothes to bring a winter feeling to the reader. What a wonderful way to welcome the winter! Perfect for storytime.

Hooray, another beautiful winter picture book for me to check out 😄
hahaha… right? There is something about a winter picture book that just feels like a cozy hug.