Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
You know, there’s nothing the WeatherFolk like better than drama!
They are never happier than when they can use words like “hurricane”, “tornado”, and “polar vortex”!
They love prompting you in urgent tones to make sure you’re stocked up on batteries, bottled water, canned goods, flashlights, and toilet paper 🙂 (I don’t know why they never mention chocolate… seems to me that should be right up there at the top of the list!)
They love predicting that holiday travel will be nightmarish. It warms them to the cockles of their weather-beatin’ little hearts 🙂
So, in my neck of the woods, the headlines for the next couple days read:
SNOW IN NORTHEASTERN US AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGE UP TO 50 DEGREES THIS WEEKEND!!!
As writers, we can all appreciate the WeatherFolks’ use of exaggeration evocative verbiage 🙂 I believe the content of the article suggests that some places may see a dusting of snow and it’s going to be a wee bit colder over the weekend than it was this unusually warm past week 🙂 But it just sounds so much more interesting when they say the temperature is going to “plunge 50 degrees,” doesn’t it? Kinda makes you want to stock up on toilet paper… in case you need to wrap yourself in it to stay warm… 🙂
Anyway, speaking of snow, look at this wonderful book!
Title: Waiting For Snow
Written By: Marsha Diane Arnold
Illustrated By: Renata Liwska
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, November 1, 2016, fiction
Suitable For Ages: publisher says 4-7… I think 3-6/7
Themes/Topics: patience, seasons (winter), snow, friendship
Opening: “Hedgehog found Badger staring at the sky.
“What are you doing, Badger?”
“Waiting for snow. It’s winter and I haven’t seen one snowflake.””
Brief Synopsis: Poor Badger is desperate for snow, but no matter what he does the weather won’t cooperate. Hedgehog assures him that everything comes in its own time, but oh! it’s so hard to wait!!!
text copyright Marsha Diane Arnold 2016, illustration copyright Renata Kiwska 2016… a glimpse of ways the friends try to pass the waiting time… 🙂
Links To Resources: waiting is hard, and kids have to do a lot of it! Have your kids/students make a list of things they have to wait for, or draw a picture of something they’re waiting for; 10 Ways To Play With Kids While You’re Waiting; 12 Games To Play While You Wait
Why I Like This Book: If you’ve ever had a kid… or been a kid… or, well, you’re anyone living life on this earth 🙂 you’ve had to wait for things and you know how hard it is! (er, ahem, writers… agency and/or publishing contracts…! Am I right? 🙂 ) This sweet, funny, and beautiful book is about a little badger who is waiting for snow. He and his friends try everything they can think of to hurry it along but, as is so often the case when you really want something to happen, nothing works. What he learns in the meantime is the value of good friends. What he learns in the end is that everything happens in its own time. I think we can all take a lesson from Badger’s experience 🙂 The soft, fuzzy art is the perfect complement to the text – endearing, engaging, sweet!
text copyright Marsha Diane Arnold 2016, illustration copyright Renata Kiwska 2016
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, What a fun book. I guess “great minds think alike” or we both just really like winter and the magic that comes with snow.. Have to go find this book. Thanks for highlighting it. 🙂
Adorable. I want to run outside and play with these critters!
This looks so sweet – perfect for how kids are feeling right now!
Brrr! So seasonally appropriate, but given all the warm weather lately, it’s shocking that the flurries will be flying soon. How perfect to wait for the storm with all of these lovely critters.
We got that drama here in CO! On Wednesday I gave history tours to 100 second graders all in shorts and Ts, on Thursday I had to use the scraper to get the ice and snow off the windshield! Looking forward to reading Marsha’s new book!
Thank-you for sharing this book. I look forward to reading it. I guess we’re all thinking about the weather, though my review is less snowy. Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!
Such a sweet book. Kids love the first snow. I predict this will be a favorite read! The weather is so crazy. It will be 73 in SW Ohio today. Drop to 37 Saturday. And, maybe snow a little on Sunday. Happy Thanksgiving, Susanna!
Love love love the illustration…I can’t wait to get a copy of this book, Susanna!
And can that be right? Is Thanksgiving really next week? How did that happen????
All good wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving for you, Susanna, your family, and our dear kit lit community. Let’s all come together under the umbrella of our love for children…and move forward to write picture books that are inspiring, informative,and inclusive.
I must find this book. I, like Badger, am always looking for the snow.
This book looks absolutely delightful! Beautiful illustrations. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Susanna!
I just love waiting for that first snow, even if it is just a hyped-up dusting. This book looks adorable.
Thanks, Susanna, this book looks like fun! The illustrations are so sweet
This book does truly sound and look perfect! 😀