Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
This place in the Snow
Picture Book
For ages 4 and up
Penguin, 2004 ISBN: 978-0525473084
Something wonderful has happened. Snow has fallen - lots of it! The snow plow is "rumbling" through the streets creating huge "mountains" of snow pushing it up and up and up. The children are excitedly getting ready, pulling on their layers of clothing and hurriedly eating their breakfast.
At long last they are outside, soaking up their first real view of the wonderful snow and the terrific mountain that the snow plow has created. Now they have to decide what they are going to do next. They have a long discussion as they stand on the top of the huge pile of snow and finally they come to an agreement. What a wonderful idea, what a stupendous idea they have come with.
The children work very hard hollowing and shovelling, sculpting and rolling, carving and shaping until their work of art is complete - and what a work of art it is.
This vibrant winter celebration of snow and of creating something beautiful out of the wonderful white material is a joy to read. The artwork beautifully captures the children’s enjoyment as they anticipate going out into the snow and as they work together to create something wonderful, unique, and all their own. Add to this the minimal, rhythmic, and evocative language and you have a picture book which is a feast for the ear and the eye.
