{"id":34174,"date":"2018-01-26T22:58:40","date_gmt":"2018-01-27T02:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34174"},"modified":"2018-01-26T22:58:40","modified_gmt":"2018-01-27T02:58:40","slug":"review-of-the-snowbear-by-sean-taylor-illustrated-by-claire-alexander","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34174","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Snowbear, by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Claire Alexander"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Snowbear<\/em><\/p>\n

by Sean Taylor
\nillustrated by Claire Alexander<\/p>\n

words & pictures (Quarto Publishing), Lake Forest, CA, 2017. 28 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Charming, sweet, and simple \u2013 this would be a great pick for a winter storytime. It\u2019s from the point of view of two small children, and the words and pictures are realistically childlike.<\/p>\n

When Iggy and Martina wake up to snow, they go out to play. Their mother warns them to be careful of the hill, because it\u2019s too steep and slippery. So they make a snowman \u2013 but it ends up looking more like a snowbear.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks happy to be made,\u201d said Martina.<\/p>\n

And it was true.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then Iggy wants to slide down the hill on their sled. Oops! It really is too steep and slippery. They slide on and on, into the deep dark woods.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s lots of atmosphere:<\/p>\n

Nothing moved except for one grey pigeon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to go home,\u201d said Martina.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I,\u201d said Iggy.<\/p>\n

He got off the sledge and tried to pull it back the way they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n

But Mom was right.
\nIt was too steep and slippery.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Next, there\u2019s a wolf staring at them through the trees. It\u2019s a scary moment. But they hear something, and an entire spread is their open-mouthed faces staring in amazement.<\/p>\n

The snowbear has come lolloping down the hill toward them! The wolf leaves, and without a word, the snowbear picks them up and carries them home. Then it goes back to where they\u2019d made it, keeping its friendly smile all along.<\/p>\n

The ending is nice and open ended. Mom says it\u2019s a lovely snowbear, but only the kids understand what really happened.<\/p>\n

The pictures and text work together beautifully in this tale with child-sized drama and danger \u2013 and wonderful coziness.<\/p>\n

QuartoKnows.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/snowbear.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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