The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem

The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem by Shannon Hale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's a quiet, snowy winter day and time for a superhero playdate, when suddenly the fun is interrupted by a giant who starts squashing everything and doesn't respond to the usual superhero tactics. What to do? Call in reinforcements, of course! Soon the Princess in Black, Princess in Blankets, and the Goat Avenger are joined by not just their superhero friends, but also 8 NEW superhero friends and animal sidekicks. Together they trap the giant in a giant-sized twine playpen, and the giant starts to...cry??

My kids and I love the theme of friendship and collaboration, and it's fun to see the silly combination of disguises the new friends come up with. You don't learn anything much about the new characters, but that may come in future installments in the series.

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Mary Had a Little Snowplow

Mary Had a Little Snowplow by Rachel Matson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What I LOVE about this book is that the main character, Mary, is a clever girl who knows how to use tools to build things—in this case a tiny snowplow that follows her like the lamb in the original nursery rhyme. I also love that she is depicted as possibly being Asian, with classmates who have a variety of skin and hair colors. And when the text follows the rhythm of the nursery rhyme, the story rolls delightfully off the tongue. 

However, there are some pages when the rhythm falters, requiring practice and thought to figure out which syllables to emphasize, and one page where I simply cannot figure out where the rhythm went. (“The shovel bravely went SWISH/As the snow turned to muck.” What??  It doesn't fit with the "Mary had a little lamb" pattern.)

Bottom line is there is lots to love but rehearse before reading aloud!

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Rabbit's Snow Dance

Rabbit's Snow Dance by James Bruchac
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A traditional Iroquois story retold by James & Joseph Bruchac about a time when Rabbit had a long tail and short patience. A cautionary tale for anyone wanting lots of snow Right Now, no matter the season or the needs of your fellow creatures.

The repetition and chanting would make this an excellent read-aloud for preschool through elementary audiences.

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The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How is it that I am today years old before I read this classic?? Or if I read it before, it was so many decades ago, I’ve entirely forgotten this sweet story of a little boy who goes out to play in the snow. Lovely! I’m so glad it was included in a pack of snow-themed books I bought for my kids through the Scholastic book program at school.

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