Children's Picture Books

Are You Ready for Winter?

By: Sheila Anderson
Publisher: Lerner Publications
Publication Date: January 2010
ISBN: 0761345833
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 2010

In the winter many children love to go outside to play in the snow. “Whoosh!” You can see a girl slide down a hill on a flying saucer. In many parts of the country it is “so cold that you can see your breath” when winter arrives. It’s time to get on your snow jacket, ski pants and mittens because “temperatures drop in the wintertime.” Do you like to try to catch snowflakes with your tongue or build a snowman? Sometimes the snow is blown across the road and you can actually hear the wind howl. “Woooooooo!” When the snowfall is heavy, you might have to hold onto someone’s hand because “it is hard to see.” Not many people want to be out in a snowstorm!

A couple of children have mugs of cocoa in their hands as they try to keep warm. They have sweaters, scarfs and hats to keep their bodies warm, but caribou grow “thick winter coats to keep warm.” Wolves and other animals will “huddle together for warmth” while birds look all fat and puffy sitting on a branch when they “puff up their feathers” to keep warm. Bears eat lots of food in preparation for winter so they won’t have to “search for food” and can hibernate in their dens. When heavy snows or blizzards fall some children help their parents when they “shovel their sidewalks.” In winter you can see skating rinks, icicles, deep snows, snow angels and feel the cold weather, but before you know it, spring is on its way.

This is a fun, interesting seasonal book that would be perfect for story or circle time in a library or classroom setting. Children who live in winter wonderlands are always anxious for the first snowfall and will enjoy talking about their experiences. Other children, who have never experienced snow, will enjoy learning about it and seeing the vibrant photographs of children at play. This is a nice way to teach children how to love and appreciate nature and learn how things change with the seasons. In the back of the book is a section that discusses hibernation. There is also an index, a glossary, and additional book and website resources (National Geographic Explorer and PBS on hibernation).

Quill says: Brrrrrr.....let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...and enjoy learning about winter with this book.