The Snow Day

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Amazing artwork captures snow's wintry magic.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the writer and illustrator of this book began her career as a textile designer, and her snowy scenes in this book truly show off her talent. Her previous book, Emily's Balloon, was named an ALA Notable Children's Book.

What's the story?

When a snow storm hits the city, the kindergarten bunny spends the day at home waiting it out with his mom as school closes down and his dad's flight is canceled.


Is it any good?

 

This is a beautiful book with remarkable illustrations and a sensitively told story sure to charm young kids and their parents. That the main characters are rabbits seems a little strange, but it works, and in a strange way adds to the tenderness of the tale. The minimal text says just enough to move the story forward yet still not detract from the magic of the artwork that captures not only the look of a snowy day, but also its sounds and feelings. In fact, much more is said by the pictures of this story than the words themselves.

Dabs of white falling over a beige world that is highlighted here and there by deeper brown, grey, and blue tones makes the world seem silent, and cold. Then, the subtle use of yellow in the bunny's pajamas, his vest, his galoshes,
and the curtains of his house gives a definite feeling of excitement to
each scene, the kind a kid would feel on a day like this. And, readers also will understand why the snowy silence makes the little rabbit feels "all alone" in the world, even if they have never lived where snow days are a common occurrence. All will appreciate the dreamy wonder that comes with looking out on a day filled with snow fall, and the magical fairy tale kind of world it creates.

The magic of the artwork that captures not only the look of a snowy
day, but also its sounds and feelings. In fact, much more is said by
the pictures of this story than the words themselves.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the snowy day and the mix of feelings they might feel when they are kept indoors by a storm. Families who haven't had the experience of seeing snow can imagine what it would be like to have a "snow day." How did the little kindergartner feel when he heard he could not go to school that day? What was the first thing he did? What else got canceled? The bunny felt he and his mom were all alone in the world. Why do you think he felt that way?


This review was written by Patricia Tauzer

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This review was written by Patricia Tauzer
Author:Komako Sakai
Illustrator:Komako Sakai
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Picture Book
Publisher:Arthur A. Levine
Publication date:January 1, 2009
Number of pages:32
Hardcover price:$16.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):4 - 8
Read aloud:4
Read alone:7

This review was written by Patricia Tauzer
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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