Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Robert’s Snow
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Penguin, 2004 ISBN: 978-0670059119
Robert the mouse and his family live in an old boot. Unfortunately the boot is so old that it is always in need of repair work. Aunt Vicky wishes very much that they could have a new home but there simply is not enough time to find a suitable place, for winter is coming. There is much to do to get ready for winter including sealing up the boot so that snow does not come into the little house. Indeed the mice really don’t like snow for, after all, mice are not like the "big animals" who can "stomp, stomp right through it."
Robert, the littlest mouse in the family, is the only one who likes snow and one night he cannot resist going out to play in the lovely white stuff. Indeed Robert plays so hard that he quiet loses his way. Where is his home, where is his snug boot and his family? How on earth will he find the boot under all the snow?
Sometimes we have to be careful what we wish for but thankfully in Robert’s case his dream of going to play outside in the snow does not end in disaster, for the little mouse is rescued in the nick of time by a very special winter visitor. Better still the whole mouse family discover that the visitor left them a wonderful gift.
This warm and at the same time exciting picture book reminds readers that snow may be wonderful for larger creatures, but for smaller ones it can be a trial. It is refreshing to see a snowy world from the point of view of someone small and to be reminded that sometimes, in the cold hard winter months, the little ones need the help of those who are bigger.
