Snowy, Flowy, Blowy: A Twelve Months Rhyme (by Nancy Tafuri)

Watercolor illustrations tell the details of the story--children are engaged in activities indigenous to regions that experience conspicuous seasonal changes.

Making tracks in the snow, flying kites, fishing in the pond, swinging from trees in full bloom, and running for the school bus are just some of the ways children and families are represented marking time throughout the year. The activities convey seasonal warmth and family fun, but the choice of rhyming words is sometimes forced: The outdated word bowery describes the month of June, and the puzzling choice of choppy is used for August.

The poem is written in italic calligraphy, creating a barrier for young readers. The names of the months are in all capital letters and in different colors, also not helpful for kids tackling the words on their own. The best part of the book is the illustrations. Nancy Tafuri interprets the seasonal changes in two-page spreads, and her watercolors feature stunning creatures looming in the foreground, with a family busily engaged in the background.