Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Toby's best friend has moved away, leaving him in a funk as bleak as the winter day. But when Toby idly says "Hello" to a snowflake, the snowflake answers back-and as Cordell (The Gorillas of Gill Park) subtly shifts the winter light from grey to warm lavenders and blues, the boy finds himself literally surrounded by tiny, amiable snowflake companions. They make interesting conversation ("Some tell jokes. Other talk about movies they have seen"), compliment his snow angel-making and collaborate with him on an impressive snowman. Cordell makes intelligent use of white space as he demonstrates the simple pleasures to be found in winter pastimes. The sun brings about the departure of Toby's crystallized comrades but just as the hero's mood threatens to turn south again, a new boy appears in the front yard, ready to make friends. Halpern, making her debut, conveys a genial directness. But her text feels undisciplined; the story seems to stretch in order to tie Toby's loneliness and new friendships to a bigger statement about the rhythms of nature. Still, the emotional understatement of Cordell's austere ink-and-watercolor pictures, combined with his keen sense of composition, gives Toby's struggle texture and pacing. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-When his friend moves away, Toby is lonely and bored. As snow begins to fall, he makes friends with the snowflakes, creating snow angels and building snowmen, until the snow finally melts. When the saddened youngster asks why everyone is leaving, one snowflake tells him, "We all have to go some time." Then a new boy moves in down the street, and Toby has a new pal. The spare cartoon-style illustrations, done in pen and ink with watercolor, reveal the action. Soft, muted colors and expansive white spaces add to the lonely feeling expressed in the story and create interest. The narrative has a natural flow, told in clear language. The dialogue between Toby and the snowflakes is somewhat stilted, and the satisfactory ending is predictable, yet young children will enjoy the simplicity of the story.-Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA (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
Lonely Toby (his best friend has moved away) is invited to play with a bunch of freshly fallen snowflakes. Although they all melt the next day, Toby finds a new (human) friend in their place. Distinctive images of a red-garbed Toby match a bold text that portrays the snowflakes as happy-go-lucky characters (""'See ya, Sheila.' 'Next time around, Yolanda'"") embracing their ephemeral nature. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this slow, quiet story, a lonely boy discovers that friends come and go. When his best friend moves away, a despondent Toby checks the empty mailbox for a letter. Then it begins snowing and the falling flakes invite Toby to play. Toby imagines the individual flakes have names and hears them talking and joking with one another. Together Toby and the snowflakes make snow angels, snowballs and a snowman. But as sun melts his new snow friends, Toby feels deserted again until a new boy named Gary invites him to play. Simple pen-and-ink outlines and watercolor washes in soft colors echo the subdued, somewhat somber mood. In his red snowsuit, Toby seems particularly isolated against the forlorn gray-and-white winter landscape. Although the storyline is a bit disjointed, its message should appeal to kids with both real and imaginary friends. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
