When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in Our Snowy Woods is the perfect picture book to curl up with at this time of year. While we’re trying to keep warm it takes a vibrant look at how families enjoy winter and the way that their actions are intertwined with the wildlife in our woods.
When Winter Comes celebrates the joy that can be found in wintery activities – families enjoy fishing, sledging and skiing and although everywhere is covered in snow much of our wildlife is still active too. The fallen log is a shelter for tree frogs, slugs and snails. Below the snow covered ground are meadow mice are making tunnels and in the towering trees birds shelter from wintery winds. After dark animals hunt, howl or hibernate whilst fish slumber under the frozen lake.
We love the lyrical language, the imagery and the alliteration. Particular favourite lines include a ‘slushy slumber party of sleepily swimming rainbow trout’ and ‘we snowshoe across cover tangles of tunnels below the snow’.
Erin Hourigan’s beautiful illustrations evoke the characteristics of a winters day with bright colours against beautiful snowy backgrounds. Double spreads showing day and night are peppered with short pieces of text.
This beautiful book would be wonderful to include in a wintery classroom topic and can stimulate discussions about how animals deal with winter whether sleeping, resting or staying active. Children could also discuss their favourite snowy activities and how they can help wildlife in the winter, especially when it comes to finding food.
Age Range: 3+
Author: Aimée M. Bissonette / Illustrator: Erin Hourigan
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy of When Winter Comes – a wonderful celebration of winter.
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