Perfect Picture Book Friday – I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea PLUS A Giveaway!!!

It’s a perfectly gorgeous, perfectly October, Perfect Picture Book Friday!

And I have the perfect book to share – a lovely, lyrical picture book all about seasons!

Not only that, but author Jan Milusich is kindly offering a copy of I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea to one lucky winner (U.S. addresses only, please)! All you need to do to put yourself in the running to be the randomly selected winner is leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday October 23 at 3 PM Eastern!

Plus, I have a giveaway winner to announce! The winner of Melissa Stoller’s giveaway from last week – a signed copy of Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart – is. . .

Julie Rowan-Zoch!!!

Congratulations, Julie! I know you will love the book! Please email me with your snail mail address and who you’d like the book signed to so I can pass that information along to Melissa and get your book to you!

And now! The moment you’ve all been waiting for! Today’s perfect picture book!

Title: I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea

Written By: Janice Milusich

Illustrated By: Chris Raschka

Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books, October 7, 2025, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: sensory awareness, seasons, lyrical text

text copyright Janice Milusich 2025, illustration copyright Chris Raschka 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Opening:
“Where I live, seasons change.
I know because my fingers and toes,
my ears, my mouth and nose
all tell me so.”

text copyright Janice Milusich 2025, illustration copyright Chris Raschka 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “In this poetic story Neveah uses her senses of touch, taste, hearing, and smell to vividly describe the changing seasons and the unique delights they each have to offer.”

text copyright Janice Milusich 2025, illustration copyright Chris Raschka 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Links To Resources: Author Jan Milusich provided these wonderful activities! DIY Touch Box; DIY Scent Jars; Teachers’ Guide to I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea;

Making the Touch Box
(see link above for activity instructions)

Scent Jar
(see link above for activity instructions)

Activity Sheets from Penguin Random House

Screenshot

text copyright Janice Milusich 2025, illustration copyright Chris Raschka 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Why I Like This Book: This lovely, lyrical picture book uses layers of sensory description to make the seasons come alive. Snow hushes, spring robins sing “cheerily-cheerily-cheer-up”, the sound of bees makes “teeth tingle”, tiny grains of summer sand “crowd toes”, and the waves “SHHhh-CRSHHhh”. Young readers will experience each of the seasons through all of their senses – tasting hot dogs and peaches, smelling sunscreen and woodsmoke, hearing seagulls and squirrel chatter, and feeling the touch of the different kinds of wind each season brings. A quiet, beautiful, perfect anytime read book for every shelf!

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 blog 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! 😊

And remember, your comment below puts you in the running to be the randomly selected winner of a copy of I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea if you leave it by Thursday October 23 at 3 PM Eastern!

Janice Milusich is a children’s author and a teacher for the visually impaired, working with preschool students. Her students and their experiences often inspire her writing. She graduated from Stony Brook’s Children’s Literature Fellowship and Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Lab. Her newest picture book, I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea, illustrated by Chris Raschka and published by Anne Schwartz Books, launches Oct. 7th, 2025.

Her other works for children include the picture book, Off Go Their Engines, Off Go Their Lights, and the chapter book series, Cleo’s Big Ideas. Janice has also been published in Spider and Muse magazines. She lives near the beach on Long Island, NY, with her family, one lovable pooch, and two finicky felines.

42 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday – I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea PLUS A Giveaway!!!”

  1. suejeanko says:
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    suejeanko's avatar

    You got me at the title! And once I knew more, even more excited to get this book in my hands! Congratulations, Janice and Chris, and thanks as always, Susanna.

  2. susanaobandobarquero says:
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    susanaobandobarquero's avatar

    When I read about the senses the MC uses to describe the seasons, I knew I would love to read it and explore the senses when reading it to my kids. Great idea. Love it already.

  5. ptnozell says:
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    ptnozell's avatar

    This looks lovely! Raschka’s dreamy illustrations are stunning, and that lyrical language is so evocative. Whether I win a copy or not, this is one I need to read and share.

  7. robdonart123 says:
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    robdonart123's avatar

    The 5 senses. Perfect. I love it and I love how this pb can be used across the curriculum. I’m heading out the door in a couple of minutes. I now have a heightened awareness to use my 5 senses. Thank you!♥️

  11. lodobocreates says:
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    lodobocreates's avatar

    ”cheerily-cheerily-cheer-up”

    With colder, darker days ahead, I plan to stay cheerful with these wonderful words. Thanks, Janice!

  13. authorlaurablog says:
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    authorlaurablog's avatar

    I love everything about this book and the activities you mentioned takes me back to student teaching in kindergarten! I did my week of lessons on my own about the five senses. 😊
    Such great memories.

  14. Danielle Hammelef says:
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    Danielle Hammelef's avatar

    This book will connect readers to the world around them and beg them to be in the moment as they use their own senses while outside. I’m excited to read this book.

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