the first snow

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was reading picture books in preparation for the upcoming holidays… and now I am reading my first picture books of the year about wintertime! These things go hand in hand, but it makes me laugh a little bit since we’re still firmly in summer weather-wise. Marie Štumpfová and Radek Malý's wintry picture book The First Snow, translated by Mark Worthington, is a gorgeously-illustrated and meditative picture book, and its layered, screen printed art will delight readers young and not-so-young.

 

the first snow book cover
It’s common knowledge that there are many shades of snow. As is the fact that it is possible to find just about anything in it, from a lost glove to a careless arctic explorer.

Even though Stefan and Agnes come across something altogether different under the snow that morning, their journey through the dreamlike snow-covered landscape sometimes seems like an expedition to a frozen wilderness. Even so, they still find time to feed the birds and stroke the cat on the way. And even Miss Smilla would be delighted by the shades of snow in the illustrations.

 

Stefan and Agnes wake up one morning to a world blanketed in white. They venture out into the newly snowy landscape accompanied only by their tiger-fierce kitty, as their mother has chores to do. Once in the wintry wonderland of their backyard, they find that even common objects have been transformed by deep snow. They make snow angels, follow animal tracks, shovel the path, and then begin building… a polar bear! In a flight of imagination (or is it truly magic?) the children visit the frozen wilds atop the bear’s back before returning to their own backyard and continued surprises. 


In this picture book, siblings Agnes and Stefan experience that singular joy of a first snow day as a child, when everything seems impossibly wondrous under a blanket of new-fallen snow. Their whimsical adventures will feel familiar to adults, and spark children’s imaginations. The main characters take moments to marvel at the world around them, and this is reflected in the pacing of the book – it feels as though it should be lingered over as well, like a gorgeous view or any other nature-driven delight.


Worthington’s translation of Štumpfová and Malý’s prose is at times uneven. There are clunky choices of verb tense and contractions where full words might produce a more poetic effect. All that to say – the words don’t all flow perfectly, but small children will not mind this. I admit that as an English teacher, I am becoming more crotchety about words each year! Language choices to celebrate in The First Snow? Plentiful figurative elements in the form of metaphors and similes, such as “quiet as a lamb”, “like being in another world”, and “like winter-flavored ice cream.”


My quibbles with the text do not matter in the grand scheme of things because the art is transcendent! Štumpfová’s illustrations appear to be screen printed, in an array of pastels. The visual elements of this text are truly magnificent – of course there is a lot of white on each page, but all the different colors that snowy white can be – reflected blues, pinks, and even yellows, show up throughout the pages. The screen printing also adds subtle depth, textures, and patterns to the illustrations, and the many different forms that snow can take are the stars. I can’t emphasize how much I love the art – I’d snap up boxes of The First Snow-themed holiday cards and wrapping paper in a hot second!


In all, The First Snow features exquisite art and a story that both young ones and their adults will enjoy reading. It may even spark world-traveling polar bear adventures in backyards after the first snow of *this* season!


Recommended for: fans of seasonal picture books, young readers ages 3-6, and winter holiday gifting!

 

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher (Albatros) at Picture Book Palooza. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

No comments:

Newer Posts Older Posts Home