Review by New York Times Review
In this sweetly pared-down story about adapting, little Pedro, arriving at his cousins' house from "far away," is not psyched to see snow. "It is cold," he notes, "and I don't like cold." Snow angels? No thanks. Sledding? No way - until someone goes first. Soon Pedro's enjoying a snowball fight and not feeling cold anymore. McCarty ("Henry in Love") draws furry creatures that are all as still and stout as saltshakers, yet he gives each a subtle individuality that evokes unexpected emotion. OUTSIDE Written and illustrated by Deirdre Gill. 40 pp. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) A snowy day finds a little boy looking longingly out the window, then leaving his computer-fixated older brother to venture outside. There, his snowball grows into a giant creature that comes to life, followed by an immense snow castle and, for good measure, a fire-breathing dragon who takes him for a ride over the snow-covered world. Gill's message is overt, and attuned to many parents' concerns these days: No matter the weather, freedom lies where the electronic devices are not. BLIZZARD Written and illustrated by John Rocco. 40 pp. Disney-Hyperion. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) In a follow-up of sorts to his Caldecott Honor book, "Blackout," Rocco recounts the blizzard that shut down his neighborhood when he was a boy. His family was stuck, albeit cozily, at home for five days, until he turned tennis rackets into snowshoes and made a "long journey" to the market. A pullout spread maps his route, including stops to build a snowman and climb a lookout tree. It's a wonderful story of everyday adventure, with a strong 1970s vibe: Dad's got a La-Z-Boy, and those rackets are wooden. WINTER BEES AND OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD By Joyce Sidman. Illustrated by Rick Allen. 32 pp. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 9) Some elegant strategies for surviving snowy Northern winters come to life in these cogent poems, accompanied by factual sidebars and strikingly colored prints. A scrum of hibernating snakes "'round each other twist and fold"; a beaver family hangs out in a downright inviting-looking "under-ice world / of the fat white wigwam"; working in tandem, a raven and wolf call to each other to "keep tracking our dinner." The chickadee keeps on looking for food "from dawn to dusk in darkling air." THE SNOW GIRL Retold by Robert Giraud. Illustrated by Hélène Muller. 32 pp. Floris Books. $17.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 9) Sensitively retold from a traditional Russian tale and illustrated with an ethereal, wintry beauty, this "Snow Girl" leaves a haunting impression. An older, sadly childless couple make a girl out of snow and are delighted when she comes to life, "so lovely they couldn't stop gazing at her." The girl is cheerful and busy, but when spring comes she's unaccountably forlorn, until she leaps over a fire and disappears. The couple hear her voice in the breeze delivering an astute twist on conventional wisdom: "Winter will bring back what summer drives away." ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [January 18, 2015]
Review by Booklist Review
From the same neighborhood where the bunny star of Chloe (2012) watched television with her big family comes another comfortable story about the simple joys of an earlier time. Pedro arrives in the big city, all by himself, just in time for the first snowfall and his own first experience with snow. His five canine cousins assure him that snow is just wonderful, but Pedro, no fan of the cold, isn't buying it. They bundle up and venture out to engage in the best elements of snow angels and sledding and snowflakes on the tongue and, with the help of the neighborhood kids (including Chloe herself, in a cameo appearance), Pedro is a convert. The rich, buffed landscape is a perfect backdrop for McCarty's fluffy, graphite character work. The sense of furry softness, which kids will want to reach out and touch, contrasts nicely with the bright, flat pastels of hats and snowsuits. The open spreads, empty of any detail, reflect the serene stillness of falling snow, drawing the reader right into the magical moment. A winter winner.--Barthelmess, Thom Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Pedro makes a winter visit to his cousins, Sancho, Bella, Lola, Ava, and Maria. He's never seen snow before. "I don't think I will like it," Pedro says. Neighbors come to play; when one girl, Abby, tells Pedro about snowflakes ("You can even catch them on your tongue. It tastes good!"), Pedro is unimpressed. "It tastes cold," he says. McCarty's characteristic, ever-so-delicate shading gives the faces of his roly-poly creatures substance and softness. He paints their snowsuits and hats as flat shapes in candy-store colors, making the characters look like deliciously dressed-up paper dolls. Pedro's cousins and their friends leap and cavort like a Broadway ensemble, and their energy gives the story its visual excitement-and a bubbly contrast to Pedro's pessimism. When sledding is suggested, Pedro asks, "Why do you go up?" "To go back down," says Henry, who fans will recognize from Henry in Love. Fortunately, Pedro's first sled ride makes him a believer. McCarty deftly spins the story toward its inevitable conclusion, and his sly, Dick-and-Jane prose ("It is cold," Pedro keeps saying) makes this a rewarding readaloud. Ages 4-8. Agency: Gotham Group. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Starred Review. PreS-Gr 1-Pedro, a young anthropomorphic dog, has traveled from far away, and his cousins Sancho, Bella, Lola, Ava, and Maria are eager to introduce him to snow-something he's never before experienced. Though Pedro is initially reluctant, the cousins, joined by a host of other animals-bunnies, owls, chickens, and more-show him how to make snow angels, taste snowflakes, and sled down a hill, until he finally warms to the day's activities. Employing ink and watercolors rendered in a muted, beige-heavy palette, McCarty relies upon the sweetly old-fashioned style readers will fondly remember from titles such as Henry in Love (2009) and Chloe (2012, both HarperCollins)-Chloe the rabbit even makes an appearance. The animals are an enchanting bunch, striking such dynamic poses as they cavort that Pedro and readers alike will be hard-pressed to resist. McCarty sustains a gentle but upbeat tone through charming, dialogue-heavy text ("'Put on your boots! Put on your coat! Put on your hat and mittens!'"), as the cousins eventually win Pedro over, encouraging him cheerfully but never forcefully. Through it all, a message emphasizing the importance of trying new things is unobtrusively folded in, but most of all, readers will come away with a genuine sense of fun and the joy of family and friends. A delightful winter excursion.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2014. 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
Genial siblings Sancho, Bella, Lola, Ava, and Maria welcome their cousin Pedro, visiting from warmer climes, and introduce him to the joys of snow. The siblings are thrilled with an overnight snowfall and excitedly proclaim their reasons, which range from making snow angels to sledding to catching snowflakes on one's tongue. Pedro remains skeptical: "I don't think I will like it...Because it is cold. And I don't like cold." But it just takes one group sled-run down the hill to produce an enthusiastic convert. McCarty's straightforward sensory descriptions of snow will resonate with curious readers just as much as his earnest advice for how to approach this new experience, which balances empathy for Pedro's reluctance with gentle encouragement to try new things. Adorable animal characters face outward in theatrical tableaux set against generous white space. The muted pastel watercolors and fine-lined ink textures emphasize the open, easy feel of the narrative, while outfits with varying colors and patterns allow readers to exercise their pre-literacy skills to distinguish among the large cast. Multifaceted and well pitched. claire e. gross (c) Copyright 2015. 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
Why does everyone seem to love snow? Pedro's cousins are as eager to go out and play in the snow as they are to welcome him for a visit. But Pedro isn't so certain. "I have never seen snow. I don't think I will like it," he explains. "Because it is cold. And I don't like cold." McCarty's finely drawn furry characters pop out from minimalist backgrounds and, as usual, exude personality, warmth and wonder. They beautifully depict Pedro as he gradually learns how to play with his cousins and experiences snow for the very first time, the simple, straightforward text allowing the pictures to be the focus. Despite trepidation, Pedro dresses up in winter clothing but stands back as his cousins make snow angels and join some neighborhood children for some sledding. When it's Pedro's turn, however, he decides to give sledding a try. Will he change his mind about snow? Fans of Chloe (2012) and Henry in Love (2010) will recognize some of Pedro's new friends, while those unfamiliar with the other books will have a most pleasant surprise in store as they meet McCarty's community of realistic, kindhearted and gently humorous creatures. Children will easily identify with Pedro's hesitation as well as his triumph over his fears, while the subtle patience and acceptance offered by the other youngsters provides a nice balance. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
