Snow (by Uri Shulevitz)

This straightforward book caused one 5-year-old to squeal in delight at Uri Shulevitz's words. Descriptors such as "boy with dog," "grandfather with beard," and "woman with umbrella" inspired him to fire off a barrage of original people labels. "Neighbor with cat," "friend with mittens," and "teacher with snack" provoked endless giggles, plus satisfaction about being able to understand and play along with this silly-speak.

But what makes SNOW so appealing is the purity of the boy with dog. In text and illustrations, Shulevitz brings the spirit of a child brilliantly to life. Readers are quickly convinced it is the boy's pure will that brings each flake. If the snowfall isn't enough, the boy's imagination brings to life Mother Goose, Humpty Dumpty, and the gang to celebrate.