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PERFECT SNOW by Barbara Reid

PERFECT SNOW

by Barbara Reid & illustrated by Barbara Reid

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6492-9
Publisher: Whitman

Most snow-themed books celebrate a day off from school, but Reid’s latest just may have kids hoping for their own snow-filled recess. 

Scott and Jim wake up to snow. The fact that school is not called off does not blunt their enthusiasm one bit. Once at school, both occupy their desks, but their thoughts are already outside. And when the recess bell finally rings, Scott works on creating the “World’s Greatest Snowman,” while Jim constructs an “indestructible Snow Fortress of Doom.” Trouble is, neither is very successful—Scott’s one snowman turns into a team, each better than the previous one, while meanwhile the rest of the schoolyard becomes a snow-grabbing melee as all the children run out of snow at the same time. Jim narrowly manages to save Scott’s snowmen from the fracas. At lunchtime, the two hatch a plan to combine their ideas and their snow. Their solution is so cool that the whole schoolyard pitches in to help create “The World’s Greatest Totally Massive Snowman Fort.” Reid’s trademark Plasticine artwork gives wonderful depth and texture to the pages, while the details she includes are impressive, a chain-link fence and superhero pajamas among them. Black-and-white ink-and-watercolor panels keep the focus on the main illustrations while also rounding out the story.

Cooperation, teamwork and creative problem solving taken to new levels make this a great choice, no matter what the season.

(Picture book. 5-9)