Peter and the winter sleepers

PreS-Gr 2-When a huge snowstorm hits, sounds of scratching bring Peter to the door of the lighthouse where he and his grandmother live. First one animal and then another is trapped in the deep snow and seeking shelter. Peter and Grandma invite them in, letting them sleep (except the nocturnal ones) in boxes set up along the stairs. Then a fox comes in, and he doesn't want to leave even after the snow melts and the winter sleepers have left. The rest of the story is simply told, yet charming. The illustrations are also inviting, and characters have expressive faces and animated movements. The backgrounds include beautiful saturated colors and splatters of snowflakes. De Haas gives a sense of expansive space in the lighthouse compared to the cramped staircase as the animals pile in. The only flaw is a page on which Peter is referred to as Elmo (the character's name in the Dutch edition), which is confusing. Terrific for an unusual twist on a snow storytime.-Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Peter and the Seal, 2012) will be better executed and edited. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.