Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Snow! Snow! Snow!

In which we celebrate snow.

Is it snowing there? It's snowing here, and so cold my nose fell off on the walk home from Tink's school.

If it's snowing there, step away from the computer. Put on your coat and your boots, a hat and some gloves. Go outside. Don't shovel or sand or build anything. Find a clear spot where nobody's walked and lay down. Make a snow angel. Watch the snow falling. Examine the flakes as they land on your coat. Listen to the blanket of quiet a good snow brings. Let the wet cold seep into your bones.

When your lungs burn, run inside and stand near a fire or the radiator and strip your outerwear off and jump until you can feel your toes again.

When your fingers can bend, get a pencil, and write it. Write for 20 minutes without stopping or crossing out. What did you find?

If it's not snowing there, well, you can make a snowflake, or make a snowflake. Or you can go play at Raymond Briggs's magical website for his magical book, The Snowman, which every child should read.

Or you can read these:
Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illus. Mary Azarian
Fascinating and gorgeous true story of Wilson Bentley, snow scientist

Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen, possibly the most beautiful poetic picture book ever written

Snow Crazy, by Tracy Gallup (my lovely critique group friend): celebrate a day in the snow, illustrated by hand made dolls












For the toddler set, there's Snowballs, by Lois Ehlert.

And when the kids are asleep, curl up with Orhan Pamuk's Snow, which is structured like a six-sided snowflake in a way that is so complex and cool it makes my brain hurt.


So, what's your favorite snow book?

9 comments:

Tabitha said...

It's snowing here too, and I've already gone out and laid in it with my son. :) He was so excited about the snow that he even wants to shovel the sidewalk. So I handed him a kid-sized push broom and told him to go nuts. :)

My favorite snow book is Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers. My kids really like it too.

Elise Murphy said...

I love Owl Moon!

I think there are not enough books about rain, then more rain, followed by rain.

I'm wishing for a bit of snow for us this year, too. The only drawback around here is that the city and county sold ALL of the snow plows. I'm not kidding. One inch and the schools shut down, roads are closed, people are locked in their homes. Six inches? Total disaster!

Vijaya said...

I'll never forget seeing snow for the first time ... and I still think it's like magic.

Love these books ...

I'll add two movies that feature snow: Smilla's Sense of Snow and The Runner. Both excellent.

Brenda said...

It isn't snowing here...it got to almost 50 degrees here today...

I use to love snow...the more the better...

I love making snow angels!

sruble said...

I used to love snow for making angels and playing and watching the flakes. I still do (don't tell anyone) as long as I don't have to drive in it. Thanks for the reminder of how snow can be fun and beautiful!

Rena Jones said...

We got our first real snow here yesterday too. I love it.

Another cool book I want to get is "What Snowmen Do At Night". I've heard good things about that one.

Unknown said...

No snow here. Never snow here. I miss the snow:(

Jacqui said...

Tabitha (and everyone): I'll edit to add that one; I love it too.

Elise: Write it!

Vijaya, Smilla's book is also cold and lovely. I'll check out The Runner.

Brenda and Jill, if I could, I'd send you some.

sruble, exactly. As long as I don't have to drag kids anywhere besides the yard, too.

Rena, what a great title. I will check it out.

Anonymous said...

FROGGY GETS DRESSED is a good one for the preschool crowd.