SNOWFALL

A wordless depiction of a nocturnal snowstorm, first published in South Korea.

Park’s snowflakes are translucent, blobby beings drifting down to Earth. These cuddly white figures have stubby arms and legs; black eyes with different expressions are their only facial feature. As the narrative opens, the perspective is aerial, the city a necklace of glimmering lights below. The viewpoint shifts to head-on views of two glowing streetlamps and bare trees silhouetted against a background of skyscrapers. The drifting creatures (surrounded by the white dots that represent the rest of the falling snow) turn pale yellow in the illumination; one lands on the tip of a delighted dog’s nose. The characters skate across ice, perform acrobatics on power lines, cavort on a teddy bear, form a pyramid on a parking meter, and float to rest on a windowsill framing a Christmas tree. As the sun rises, the sky and street turn blizzard-white, a dramatic contrast to the blue backdrops of night. Children will be captivated by this magical portrayal of snow; what fun to imagine flakes as athletes, entertainers, and playmates! Park relies on acrylic paints, pastels, and digital tools to create a world that youngsters will return to again and again, inventing their own stories as they pore over the snowscapes.

An enchanting vision of a natural wonder.