two wintry picture books that don't feature holidays

Caution, caution! The holidays are closer than they appear! If you haven’t yet, check out my picture book holiday gift guide for last-minute gifting ideas. And if you don’t celebrate and/or are already thinking of the long months of winter that happen after the holiday build-up, let me recommend a couple of picture books to you. Both Almost a Full Moon and Once Upon a Snowstorm feature evocative wintertime scenes, without any mention of specific holidays. They also both have art of a young person riding a wild animal (a favorite legend!) in the snow.

almost a full moon by hawksley workman, illustrated by jensine eckwall cover
Almost a Full Moon is a warm-hearted story of family, community, food and home. A boy and his grandmother host a gathering in their small cabin in the middle of winter. Friends travel from near and far, and some new friends even turn up. The walls of the cabin are elastic and the soup pot bottomless; all are welcome. Based on the lyrics of Hawksley Workman's song from his holiday album Almost a Full Moon, this book evokes both the cold and the coziness of a winter's night: crisp clean air, sparkling snow, the light of the moon, welcoming windows, glowing candles, family and friends. The spare text is beautifully complemented with the rich illustrations of Jensine Eckwall. She brings beauty and a hint of magic to Workman's evocative lyrics; together, they create a world and a night that will enchant readers of all ages.

Hawksley Workman's Almost a Full Moon, the book, is a story based on a song of the same title – about the weather turning cold, making soup, and eating it with friends. I read the book before listening to the song, and thought it simplistic at best. What saved it were Jensine Eckwall’s engrossing, whimsical watercolor images, filled with a welcoming, homey scenes, soup-making, woodland creatures, and both ordinary and fey characters.

And THEN. Then I listened to Workman’s song, and it all coalesced. Almost a Full Moon, the song, is a haunting, solemn kind of wintry meditation on sharing food and fellowship. It kept coming back to me, days later, even though I’d only listened to it once. So I get it now – why this song became a book. But if you’re going to read the book (and you should because the illustrations are FABULOUS – including the star chart endpapers!), listen to the song as well. And maybe the combination will inspire you to make a soup and invite friends as well as strangers to your table!

once upon a snowstorm by richard johnson cover
The Snowman meets the Polar Express in this dazzling picture book, sure to be a new holiday classic.

The story of a father and his son who live by themselves in a cozy cabin in the woods. But, one day they are separated out in the beautifully falling snow. The boy is lost and falls asleep. When he wakes up he is surrounded by blinking eyes, a rabbit, a fox, an owl and all manner of other creatures have surrounded him! But with a bear hug he and the woodland animals become best of friends! But soon he misses his dad and so the animals bring him back home. The father opens up his heart and home, and lets nature and love envelop their previously lonely existence.

Richard Johnson’s picture book Once Upon a Snowstorm is a wordless story about a boy and his father who go out in the snow one day – and then lose each other. The boy ends up taking refuge with a group of animals, eventually finds his way home – and brings his new friends with him. While wordless, the story narrative is fairly well-defined – but children will enjoy putting their own words to the wintry scenes and the age-old experiences of getting lost, finding new friends, and returning home again.

Johnson’s art is the star of this book, with snowy landscapes, woodland creatures, and arduous journeys depicted in a beautiful detail. My favorite page spread showed the animal faces, close-up, when they discovered the boy (and the boy discovered them!). It was a laugh-aloud moment with an otherwise quiet book, and that’s how I know it’ll be a hit with kids – especially the 3-to-5-year-old set.

Both books have their poignant moments, feature woodland creatures, snow-covered hills, and children improbably riding wild creatures. And there’s nary a holiday in sight! If those things sound good to you, pick up Almost a Full Moon and Once Upon a Snowstorm, make yourself a mug of hot chocolate, and settle in for some snug winter reading.

Fine print: I received copy of Once Upon a Snowstorm for review consideration from the publisher. I got Almost a Full Moon from my local library. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

the snow lion

It’s been a gray, wintry day here in Washington, DC – the kind where I am constantly refreshing my coffee and tea in an effort to ward off the chill. Winter is one of my favorite seasons, in part because of the holidays, yes, but also because I love bundling up in oversized sweaters and plopping a knitted hat with a pom-pom on my head. Caro, the heroine of Jim Helmore and Richard Jones’ The Snow Lion, dresses like I do in winter, and that was just one of the things to love about this quiet, beautiful picture book.

the snow lion by jim helmore and richard jones cover
After moving to a new home, Caro wishes she had a friend, but she’s too shy to meet the neighborhood kids. With a little imagination, however, Caro finds the Snow Lion. Together, they have all kinds of fun racing, climbing, and playing hide-and-seek. But when the boy next door asks Caro to come play, Caro isn’t so sure. Then, the Snow Lion has an idea! Making new friends isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it in the end.

This powerful but gentle story about making new friends is gorgeously illustrated to celebrate the magic and imagination that fills every page and will appeal to any shy or lonely young reader.

Caro and her mother have just moved, and everything in their new house is white, white, white! It would seem a little lonely and soulless, except that almost immediately Caro meets a Snow Lion. This Lion blends in with the white walls, helps her explore her new home, and encourages her to be brave and reach out to make new friends. Soon Caro’s life is full of color and friendship!

The Snow Lion is a sweet, simple, and sincere story about loneliness, taking leaps of faith, making new friends, and remembering the old ones. Though the Snow Lion is never named as such, it is an imaginary friend (but as anyone who has had an imaginary friend knows, that doesn’t make them any less real!). I liked that it was never called out in the text, because I think it will make sense to children who already daydream, and open the imaginations of those who don’t so much.

Another thing to love is the way that Helmore has framed Caro, a naturally shy character (in a new setting, to boot!), in a dynamic and positive light. The focus is not on being left out (which I’ve seen many times in picture books and is fine for what it is!), but on finding ways to play with what you have, and then later on being courageous, reaching out, and making friends.

The art! When am I going to get to the art?? Well, as you must be able to tell from the cover, Richard Jones’ mix of paint and Photoshop illustrations are simply lovely. Jones has an eye for patterned, geometric details, and while the palette is at first very muted (all that white!), color and texture gradually seep in as the world opens up for Caro. I really adored the illustrations and would happily open this book again and again just for those. I also desperately hope that there are stuffed, all-white lion toys somewhere out there in the world to pair with this book. That would be sticky-sweet. And! On a final note, the endpapers, which are a cool silver-and-white pattern! They should be made into wrapping paper. I’d buy at least 2 rolls.

Overall, The Snow Lion is quietly delightful – a good book for wintry days.

Recommended for: readers ages 3 and up, for storytimes and one-on-one reading, and especially for shy little ones (or those who’ve just faced a big change).

Fine print: I received copy of this book for review consideration from the publisher. I did not receive any compensation for this post.
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