Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Yawn./ Hug the pillow./ A cozy, curled lump in the quilt./ Mama whispers, `Snow day, child.'/ The quilt bursts open./ Is it.../ Could it.../ Would it be?" To a child, perhaps no two words inspire greater joy than Plourde's (Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud) titular phrase. For the family freed from school, released from work and not tethered to the television set the day is defined by its events. They eat "plumpy pumpkin muffins" on a "yummy snow day"; watch the "wild, whirling wind" on a "fierce snow day"; and enjoy "checkers and chuckles" on a "playful snow day." Plourde's snappy verse, with its brief phrases and effective use of onomatopoeia, convey the active pace from wake-up to wind-down. Takahashi's (Beach Play) bold acrylics feature the wide-eyed, exuberant brother and sister in crisp winter landscapes and cozy scenes by the hearth. Ages 3-6. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-An appealing succession of activities on a snowy day results in a memorable family adventure. Beginning with a small girl awakened by her mother to a winter wonderland, this unpretentious book is a series of vignettes filled with the many diversions of a snowstorm that interrupt the normal flow of daily life. Various activities take place inside and out on this momentous occasion: reading books, playing cards, sledding, shoveling, eating, and sitting in front of a roaring fire. All of the senses are satisfied in this simple tale of old-fashioned fun. Onomatopoetic wordplay reveals all the varied sounds that are part of the unforgettable storm, while the changeable day is defined by numerous adjectives: yummy, fierce, playful, bundly, shivery, snuggly, and sleepy, to name a few. Warm, clear illustrations in acrylic reveal a close, loving family of four enjoying one another's company during a special day packed with shared amusements. The large, double-spread paintings make the book ideal for group reading. The story will evoke pleasant memories in adults and heighten the seasonal enjoyment in children.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Snow day breakfast. / Steamy oatmeal in a brown sugar 'n' cream bath. / Plumpy pumpkin muffins. When a snowstorm frees a family from their daily routines, breakfast, play, and even quiet time become special activities in this poetic celebration. Illustrations in bold acrylics accurately reflect the action-packed text, showing both the fun to be had indoors and out. From HORN BOOK Fall 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This picture book will challenge, and likely enthrall, young readers with its jagged cadence and wealth of imaginary words, all the while soothing them with Takahashi's artwork, which, despite the clarity of its color and lines, has an air-brushed softness. The story follows a young girl and her brother on a snow day. Inside the house, all is snuggly; outside, all is blustery: "Wooooo-ooooo! / Wild, whirling wind / Crashes limbs to lines. / Lights dance. Flick-a-lick. / Lights die. Flick-a-flooo." When the storm passes, the family heads outdoors. "Snow day walk. / Sluggingly, trudgingly slow. / Snow day shovel. / Grunt, push, pick up, pwoosh." Not all is drudge, as there are sleighs to be ridden and snow angels to be swept. The wind-down is as tender as a lullaby. A minor clash develops between Takahashi's warm-hearted illustrations and Plourde's at times unmusical, eccentric text, but Takahashi creates a common ground by investing the children with owlish eyeballs. And she has caught the magic of a snow day, one of childhood's unexpected gifts, to give the story a natural buoyancy. (Picture book. 2-5)
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