Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Diamond in the Snow
Illustrator: Vanessa Cabban
Picture Book Series
For ages 3 to 5
Candlewick Press, 2006 ISBN: 978-0763631178
One day Mole wakes up and it is the middle of winter. There is snow on the ground and the woods look completely different to Mole because he has never seen snow before. With wonder Mole walks through the quiet woods looking and marveling at everything. Then Mole finds something truly amazing, a long diamond like object which is wet, cold, and very beautiful to look at. With difficulty Mole picks up his find and takes it with him, determined to show his friends the “diamond” that he has found. It is an odd thing for it is always wet and it keeps changing shape
Unfortunately for Mole, but the time he finds his friends, the “diamond” has quite disappeared. Mole’s friends don’t believe him at first but after Mole takes them to the place where he found the diamond, they realize that what he found was an icicle. At first Mole is disappointed that his discovery was nothing special after all and then something truly wonderful happens and Mole gets to share a very special, and a very beautiful moment with his friends.
Most of us, at some time or another find something beautiful which amazes us. We are sure that what we have found must be priceless and unique. Then we find out that our treasure is not what we thought it was after all. What Mole learns in this story is that though his diamond is only an icicle, it is still beautiful, and when it is seen in the right way, it is even magical. Like the rest of us, Mole is able to see that the world is full of beautiful and magical sights which will delight and amaze us.
Charming illustrations showing expressive and loveable Mole in his new environment perfectly capture the essence of this warm little story.
