TOBY AND THE SNOWFLAKES

In this slow, quiet story, a lonely boy discovers that friends come and go. When his best friend moves away, a despondent Toby checks the empty mailbox for a letter. Then it begins snowing and the falling flakes invite Toby to play. Toby imagines the individual flakes have names and hears them talking and joking with one another. Together Toby and the snowflakes make snow angels, snowballs and a snowman. But as sun melts his new snow friends, Toby feels deserted again until a new boy named Gary invites him to play. Simple pen-and-ink outlines and watercolor washes in soft colors echo the subdued, somewhat somber mood. In his red snowsuit, Toby seems particularly isolated against the forlorn gray-and-white winter landscape. Although the storyline is a bit disjointed, its message should appeal to kids with both real and imaginary friends. (Picture book. 4-8)