Into the Snow
Into the Snow
Written by Yuki Kaneko
Illustrated by Masamitsu Saito
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of 2017
Into the Snow is an exuberant story told by a little boy who spends the day playing outside. Celebrating immediacy and exploration, along with the tender bond between mother and child, this is a story that feels good, the way all real things do.
ISBN: 978-1-59270-188-9
8.2" (W) x 10" (H) • 32 pages • HC
AWARDS AND REVIEWS
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of 2017
★ "Working with oil pastels, gouache, acrylics, and colored pencil, Saito creates tableaux characterized by thick, soft lines, comfortably rounded shapes, and warm colors—there's hardly a hint of black or gray, and soft blobs of pink suggest cherry blossoms, further sweetening the mood. This child is not Peter on an urban odyssey; the adventure appears to take place entirely within the confines of the child's backyard. Though Mommy is nearby, she gives the child, who has recognizably East Asian features, space for delicious independence. Thrillingly cozy." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
"This is an empowering read for small children who will want their own explorations on a joyous snowy day. [...] this book evokes the feel of a snow day perfectly." —Tasha Saecker, Waking Brain Cells
"Pure joy: it’s what one apple-cheeked toddler experiences as he dives headlong into the snowy day outside, and it’s what readers will feel as they follow along." —Publishers Weekly
”A tousle-haired child is delighted to look out the window and find that it is snowing. After bundling up per Mommy's orders, he heads outdoors. First-person perspective lends immediacy to the text: ‘The snow is light and fluffy. It's soft and cold. Look! I've found an icicle. It is shiny and clear like glass.’ The mixed-media illustrations make good use of the textural properties of oil pastels, depicting a soft, snowy world that is still vibrant with bright color. When the child finds an icicle, the small bit of ice hanging from a snowy branch reflects the bright colors worn by the child, connecting the vividness of the experience to the muted quiet typically conveyed in winter scenes. The main action of the story concerns the anticipation, terror, and joy of a trip down the sledding hill and culminates with Mommy arriving at just the right moment to bring the child home for a cozy cup of cocoa. Pair this title with Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day for another sensory-rich account of exploring on a winter day.” —Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, School Library Journal