Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Girl from the Snow Country
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Kane/Miller, 1999 ISBN: 978-0916291938
Mi-Chan’s village is covered with snow and the little girl goes out into the garden to look around and to play. She notices that some of the drifts have a familiar shape so she sticks some green leaves in the shapes and sure enough, they look like snow bunnies. All she needs now to complete the bunnies are something for their little round eyes.
Then Mi-chan’s mother comes outside and the two go marketing together. On the way they stop at the stone statue of Jizo. Thinking that he looks cold, Mi-chan brushes the snow off the statue. When they get to the market Mi-chan and her mother make some purchases and then Mi-chan stops to ask the flower lady if she can suggest what Mi-chan could use for eyes for her snow bunnies. The kindly lady gives Mi-chan a spray of red berries which will be just perfect for the job.
With a spare text and soft snow-filled paintings which seem to radiate a hushed cold, this picture book is the perfect title to share on a snowy day. It is the simple story of one little girl’s day and though the events described are commonplace ones, the story captures the essence of snow magic. As they read and look children from countries around the world will be able to experience what it is like to spend a snowy day in a little village in Japan.