Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Peter and the Winter Sleepers
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
NorthSouth, 2011 ISBN: 978-0735840331
Peter lives in a lighthouse with his grandmother and Leo, his little dog. One morning, Peter wakes up to discover that it has snowed in the night. Peter has never seen so much clean white snow before, and he is thrilled. As quickly as he can, he runs outside to play in the snow and to make snowmen. When it starts snowing in the evening again, Grandma decides that it would be best to bring the goat and the chickens into the lighthouse.
In the morning, Peter sees that Grandma was right to bring in the animals, because the snow is now three feet deep. Peter hears something scratching at the front door, and when he opens it, he sees that “a very cold rabbit” has burrowed its way through the snow to get to the front door of the lighthouse. Not wanting the poor rabbit to freeze to death, Peter welcomes the rabbit in, and he makes it a warm little bed. Soon after, Peter hears a tapping at the window, and when he opens the window, he sees that a freezing owl is in need of a warm place to spend the day too.
Before long, the lighthouse is full of animals of all kinds, all of whom need to get away from the snow and the cold. Then a fox arrives, and Peter worries that perhaps having a fox in the lighthouse is not such a good idea when there are mice, rabbits, squirrels, and birds in residence.
With beautiful illustrations and an amusing seasonal story, this picture book is sure to delight young readers who long for a snow day of their own.
