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Now It Is Winter
A young mouse is encouraged by his mother to enjoy winter while waiting for spring to come.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2004
37 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Spinelli
137 books100 followersEileen Spinelli is an award-winning children's book author from southeastern Pennsylvania. She has written over 100 picture books and novels for children. Her husband is Jerry Spinelli, who also writes books for children.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 25, 2019
Some of the most poetic writing I’ve seen in a children’s book. My favorite line: “Will spring ever come? Will you and I make paper kites and fly them down an April band of beach, ever again?”
October 18, 2025
I'm sorry, but this would be so much better if the characters were children, not mice. Mice aren't young for a whole year, and everyone knows that. Otherwise the poetic text is lovely, and the theme wonderful. And though it's set where it's cold & snowy, the appeal is broad enough to include more moderate climes such as Oklahoma. Still, nothing here is quite enough to help me look forward to the season, though (but I am reading two other picture-books on the topic).
January 27, 2021
In this sweetly presented story, it is winter and a young mouse longs for the things he loved about spring, asking his mother if spring will ever come again. His mother assures him spring will come and points out things to enjoy now. Beautifully illustrated.
March 4, 2022
This was a cute story. I think I enjoyed it more than my kids though. My daughter just didn’t get into it like other books. The illustrations definitely have an older feel to them. They were cute, but almost a little outdated.
Overall, this is a cute story to welcome Winter.
Overall, this is a cute story to welcome Winter.
April 25, 2023
Mice huddle in their cozy burrow and look forward to Spring. The patient mother mouse points out the many fun things one can do in winter while we wait for warmer weather.
February 7, 2025
A young mouse begs the question to his mother in various formats, of when will spring arrive? She gently responds with patience to help him enjoy the moment and all the joys of wintertime.
December 9, 2025
Beautiful language.
The illustrations of the sweet mice are so cozy.
The illustrations of the sweet mice are so cozy.
February 16, 2015
Booklist October 15, 2004 (Vol. 101, No. 4)
PreS-Gr. 2. "Will spring ever come? Will there be black raspberries and cream in my breakfast bowl?"asks an impatient young mouse, to which his mother patiently replies, "Yes . . . but now it is winter. Now there is oatmeal in your bowl."More questions about spring follow. In answer to each, Mother points out something that is enjoyable in the wintertime. When the little mouse longs to roll down steep, grassy hills; play tag with his friends in the park; and make paper kites, Mom reminds him that he can sail downhill on his sled, ice skate with his friends, and make a snowman. Spinelli's clever juxtaposition celebrates the joys of both seasons, as DePalma's acrylic and cut-paper illustrations depict colorfully clothed mice above and below ground. A subtle antidote to winter doldrums, this is just right for impatient children who, like the mouse, long for a change of season.
Horn Book Fall 2005
A little mouse keeps asking his mother if spring will come--"Will I roll down steep grassy hills / giggling towards the bottom? / Ever again?" Her answers--like his questions, they appear in a poemlike column--both reassure him and point out the perks of winter (buttery oatmeal; sledding), as does the acrylic and cut-paper art in an icy palette.
Kirkus Reviews August 15, 2004
Jolly cut-paper snowflakes festoon acrylic paintings in this gentle paean to living in the now. A mouse family lives cozily under the roots of a tree and the voice is of the youngest. He asks his mother, "Will spring ever come? Will there be black raspberries . . . in my breakfast bowl?" His mother responds to each question, reminding him that yes, spring will come, and berries, but there are current joys, like oatmeal and butter and brown sugar. The past and future pleasures of rolling in the grass, gathering daisies, and looking for fairies are laid against the present ones of sledding downhill, gathering pinecones, and spying snow angels. The bright colors of the mouse family's clothing and household goods contrast with the pale snow-washed colors of outside, and those great snowflakes tumble everywhere. A lovely winter story. (Picture book. 3-6)
School Library Journal September 1, 2004
PreS-A fretful young mouse learns to live in the moment in this lovely picture book. Through lyrical language, Spinelli presents the youngster's concerns ("Will spring ever come?/Will I hear the sleepy sound/of soft rain/pattering on the roof?") and his mother's reassurances ("Yes, there will be spring and rain./But now it is winter./Now sleet twinkles down/sprinkling the roof"). While his brothers and sisters frolic through the snow in the gorgeous acrylic and cut-paper illustrations, the little creature trails after his mother, asking when he will next experience his favorite springtime activities, foods, and animals. She opens his eyes to the joys of the present, and the last illustration shows him hanging up a drawing of the snowman he has made with her next to his picture of a springtime sun. Textured brush strokes capture the crisp beauty of winter and the warm coziness of the animals' home. The gentle, intimate tone makes this book a natural bedtime story or a quietly compelling read-aloud for any time.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
PreS-Gr. 2. "Will spring ever come? Will there be black raspberries and cream in my breakfast bowl?"asks an impatient young mouse, to which his mother patiently replies, "Yes . . . but now it is winter. Now there is oatmeal in your bowl."More questions about spring follow. In answer to each, Mother points out something that is enjoyable in the wintertime. When the little mouse longs to roll down steep, grassy hills; play tag with his friends in the park; and make paper kites, Mom reminds him that he can sail downhill on his sled, ice skate with his friends, and make a snowman. Spinelli's clever juxtaposition celebrates the joys of both seasons, as DePalma's acrylic and cut-paper illustrations depict colorfully clothed mice above and below ground. A subtle antidote to winter doldrums, this is just right for impatient children who, like the mouse, long for a change of season.
Horn Book Fall 2005
A little mouse keeps asking his mother if spring will come--"Will I roll down steep grassy hills / giggling towards the bottom? / Ever again?" Her answers--like his questions, they appear in a poemlike column--both reassure him and point out the perks of winter (buttery oatmeal; sledding), as does the acrylic and cut-paper art in an icy palette.
Kirkus Reviews August 15, 2004
Jolly cut-paper snowflakes festoon acrylic paintings in this gentle paean to living in the now. A mouse family lives cozily under the roots of a tree and the voice is of the youngest. He asks his mother, "Will spring ever come? Will there be black raspberries . . . in my breakfast bowl?" His mother responds to each question, reminding him that yes, spring will come, and berries, but there are current joys, like oatmeal and butter and brown sugar. The past and future pleasures of rolling in the grass, gathering daisies, and looking for fairies are laid against the present ones of sledding downhill, gathering pinecones, and spying snow angels. The bright colors of the mouse family's clothing and household goods contrast with the pale snow-washed colors of outside, and those great snowflakes tumble everywhere. A lovely winter story. (Picture book. 3-6)
School Library Journal September 1, 2004
PreS-A fretful young mouse learns to live in the moment in this lovely picture book. Through lyrical language, Spinelli presents the youngster's concerns ("Will spring ever come?/Will I hear the sleepy sound/of soft rain/pattering on the roof?") and his mother's reassurances ("Yes, there will be spring and rain./But now it is winter./Now sleet twinkles down/sprinkling the roof"). While his brothers and sisters frolic through the snow in the gorgeous acrylic and cut-paper illustrations, the little creature trails after his mother, asking when he will next experience his favorite springtime activities, foods, and animals. She opens his eyes to the joys of the present, and the last illustration shows him hanging up a drawing of the snowman he has made with her next to his picture of a springtime sun. Textured brush strokes capture the crisp beauty of winter and the warm coziness of the animals' home. The gentle, intimate tone makes this book a natural bedtime story or a quietly compelling read-aloud for any time.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2015
personal response
I thought that this book perfectly described how most people feel about winter. I often find myself, like the little mouse, waiting for winter to end and for warm weather to finally come. When I do this, I forget about all of the reasons why winter is so wonderful. I like that the mother mouse encourages her child to enjoy winter while it is here and to stop waiting for spring because it will come eventually. This is often a common theme in life as well. We are often guilty of waiting for the next best thing and not enjoying the moment that we are in.I thought that this was a really great message that could be related to a lot of different situations. The pages were filled with many shades of white and blue, which set the tone for winter through out the story.
Purpose
I think that this would be a great read aloud book for grades k-2. It could be read to the class during a unit about seasons, or even to celebrate the beginning of winter. It would also be fun to read it on a day that there has been a lot of snow. It could start a discussion about what children like the most about each of the seasons and the special activities that they like to do during them. This book uses very descriptive vocabulary that compliments the illustrations and helps to better understand the story "Will the night sky grow pink and the night breeze whisper?"
I thought that this book perfectly described how most people feel about winter. I often find myself, like the little mouse, waiting for winter to end and for warm weather to finally come. When I do this, I forget about all of the reasons why winter is so wonderful. I like that the mother mouse encourages her child to enjoy winter while it is here and to stop waiting for spring because it will come eventually. This is often a common theme in life as well. We are often guilty of waiting for the next best thing and not enjoying the moment that we are in.I thought that this was a really great message that could be related to a lot of different situations. The pages were filled with many shades of white and blue, which set the tone for winter through out the story.
Purpose
I think that this would be a great read aloud book for grades k-2. It could be read to the class during a unit about seasons, or even to celebrate the beginning of winter. It would also be fun to read it on a day that there has been a lot of snow. It could start a discussion about what children like the most about each of the seasons and the special activities that they like to do during them. This book uses very descriptive vocabulary that compliments the illustrations and helps to better understand the story "Will the night sky grow pink and the night breeze whisper?"
April 10, 2011
I love how this book appears to be all about the season of Winter and a young mouse's desire for Spring, but at the end the author explicitly notes the importance of living "now" not in the later. This would be a great book to a student who constantly worries or wishes for something in the future. It is important for students to know that we can miss out on many beautiful and important things if we are always wishing for someday. Use this book in your lessons about seasons, but be sure to remind students to look at the beauty of the season as it comes as well.
February 19, 2016
I dearly love this book. The children (mice) are adorable as they wonder if spring will ever come. Will there be blackberries, sun, flowers, and green grassy hills to roll down ever again! The mother gently reminds them that yes, there will be all those things, but now they have snowflakes, sleds, hot oatmeal, flannel pajamas, a cozy fire, and a warm bed. Now it is Winter.
"Now is the blessing,
Now is the time to love.
Now is the time
to be."
"Now is the blessing,
Now is the time to love.
Now is the time
to be."
February 23, 2012
This book is all about spring and winter. A little mouse dreams of enjoying everything about spring, but it is winter right now. This book is great to remind students to enjoy what they have now and happiness can be found in any situation.
March 2, 2012
kinda of a different book... it was cute... seeing the time of year, but the way its worded, even i was getting tongue tied. lol
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February 15, 2019Grammie (me) loves any book that features mice. The illustrations are adorable. The text is a little much for preschoolers though.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews