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Just SNOW Already!
Nothing is as fun as snow, except maybe all the craziness happening right outside this little boy’s window! Will he even notice?
When the forecast calls for snow, one little boy is thrilled. He keeps peeking outside to see if it’s snowing - but he only looks up! His single-minded focus on the sky makes him completely miss the increasingly comical chaos occurring outside his door, which includes a monster truck, a firetruck, escaped monkeys, and carousing clowns. The boy bides his time and tries to wait patiently, but waiting is boring! As the hours go by and not a snowflake is seen, the boy begins to worry that it might NEVER snow again! That’s no fun! If only he would notice all of the wacky events unfolding outside! Finally, when the boy is just about to give up, the long-awaited white stuff arrives with a single jubilant word - SNOW! All of his frustration instantly disappears, and the boy rushes outside declaring, “I knew it would snow! I knew it!” Still oblivious to the pandemonium around him, he concludes, “Nothing’s as fun as snow!” Bursting with vibrancy and hilarious details, Just SNOW Already! captures children’s love of snow – as well as the frustrating side of waiting – while offering a humorous lesson about living in the moment and noticing what's around you.
When the forecast calls for snow, one little boy is thrilled. He keeps peeking outside to see if it’s snowing - but he only looks up! His single-minded focus on the sky makes him completely miss the increasingly comical chaos occurring outside his door, which includes a monster truck, a firetruck, escaped monkeys, and carousing clowns. The boy bides his time and tries to wait patiently, but waiting is boring! As the hours go by and not a snowflake is seen, the boy begins to worry that it might NEVER snow again! That’s no fun! If only he would notice all of the wacky events unfolding outside! Finally, when the boy is just about to give up, the long-awaited white stuff arrives with a single jubilant word - SNOW! All of his frustration instantly disappears, and the boy rushes outside declaring, “I knew it would snow! I knew it!” Still oblivious to the pandemonium around him, he concludes, “Nothing’s as fun as snow!” Bursting with vibrancy and hilarious details, Just SNOW Already! captures children’s love of snow – as well as the frustrating side of waiting – while offering a humorous lesson about living in the moment and noticing what's around you.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
2757 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 5, 2024
This boy really, really wants it to snow. Snowball fights, snowmen, sledding, and more. He dreams of it all! It’s supposed to snow today. Soooo…he’s waiting and waiting and waiting for the flakes to start flying. While he’s impatiently waiting, he might just be missing out on the right there and then though. He’s only looking for one thing, so he doesn’t see the surprises, mishaps, and fun right in front of him. Readers will though! Come see the action and excitement going on in the neighborhood and come see if it finally SNOWS.
I love this bright and colorful book. There is so much going on! I knew I found something special when I kept flipping back to the previous pictures to see the path of the bird or if the cat was already in the tree or if it really was the same blue couch. Haha... These pages are filled with laughs! So many little details will make you smile and wonder what’s going to happen next. There are cats and dogs, falls, bubbles, monkeys, and more. I love the way the neighborhood layouts say so much with no words. And I love the excitement on the boy’s face and the way each and every re-read will bring more and more fun. I see something new every time! In short….I love a lot here. :D
Just Snow Already! shows off the teamwork of words and pictures beautifully. They come together here to create something special. And hilarious! A must read for every snow starved kid or kid-at-heart out there this winter.
Highly recommended.
January 22, 2024
I loved this one so much. You could really feel the juvenile whimsy of wishing and waiting for something so specific that no matter what else is going on it simply doesn't live up to the thing you're waiting on. Ahhhh. It was so cute. I loved it. And the art was great too.
January 8, 2025
5 stars. You know a bunch of kids were saying this today before they decided to cancel school for tomorrow! Take time to look closely at the illustrations, funny havoc is going on outside the house, all starting when their dog runs outside. Good look at little kid patience as they wait for a snow day!
November 15, 2023
One morning Dad says it might snow today. Kiddo looks at the window or front door into his city block to see "nothing" for page after page (in truth, reader and listener can spot all kinds of things like spilled paint and a treed cat). Then FINALLY it snows.
Courtenay drew this one to my attention -- it sure does capture the feeling of waiting for snow!
Courtenay drew this one to my attention -- it sure does capture the feeling of waiting for snow!
January 23, 2026
There is SO MUCH going on in the background on the pictures. You want to read and re-read and look for more each time.
December 31, 2023
This is so cute! Got it in the mail today and my four year old son LOVES it. The little boy in the book is so distracted with wanting it to snow that he is missing all the craziness happening outside. My son had lots of giggles while we read this.
December 28, 2023
12/21/2023 Utterly delightful, and a wonderful read with my youngest, who has similar bangs to the protagonist's, lol. Full review tk (tomorrow?) at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
12/27/2023 This book is an utter delight! Just SNOW Already! masterfully combines straightforward prose with the slyest, most charming illustrations to tell an entirely different, layered tale of anticipation and of (hopefully) not neglecting all the wonderful things already taking place while you're waiting for something "better" to happen.
Our unnamed protagonist is a young boy who shares the big eyes and bangs of my own youngest child. He really, really wants it to snow, as there is nothing more fun, in his opinion. His sister is less enthused, but gets ready to go outside to play with the neighbor while our young hero waits more or less patiently inside for snow. He runs to the window every so often, looking hopefully up at the grey skies... and absolutely missing all the intriguing and delightful things actually unfolding on the street in front of his house.
While the words themselves are already pretty great, balancing the narrator's dramatics against his family's more measured responses, it's the illustrations that really shoot this book into the stratosphere. The multiracial family is terrific representation, and the street scenes are full of rich, wordless story. I loved how the narrator's sister was busy living life while her brother pined, tho the book also provided a very valuable lesson on other ways to cope with anticipation.
I got my youngest child to read this book with/aloud to me and he absolutely loved it, tho he firmly denies any physical resemblance between himself and the protagonist. The language is perfect for advancing readers, and the illustrations provide plenty of fodder for discussion and imagination. I adored this picture book. It's the perfect winter read but can easily be enjoyed year-round, whether you're waiting for snow or otherwise.
Just SNOW Already! by Howard McWilliam was published September 1 2023 by Flashlight Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
12/27/2023 This book is an utter delight! Just SNOW Already! masterfully combines straightforward prose with the slyest, most charming illustrations to tell an entirely different, layered tale of anticipation and of (hopefully) not neglecting all the wonderful things already taking place while you're waiting for something "better" to happen.
Our unnamed protagonist is a young boy who shares the big eyes and bangs of my own youngest child. He really, really wants it to snow, as there is nothing more fun, in his opinion. His sister is less enthused, but gets ready to go outside to play with the neighbor while our young hero waits more or less patiently inside for snow. He runs to the window every so often, looking hopefully up at the grey skies... and absolutely missing all the intriguing and delightful things actually unfolding on the street in front of his house.
While the words themselves are already pretty great, balancing the narrator's dramatics against his family's more measured responses, it's the illustrations that really shoot this book into the stratosphere. The multiracial family is terrific representation, and the street scenes are full of rich, wordless story. I loved how the narrator's sister was busy living life while her brother pined, tho the book also provided a very valuable lesson on other ways to cope with anticipation.
I got my youngest child to read this book with/aloud to me and he absolutely loved it, tho he firmly denies any physical resemblance between himself and the protagonist. The language is perfect for advancing readers, and the illustrations provide plenty of fodder for discussion and imagination. I adored this picture book. It's the perfect winter read but can easily be enjoyed year-round, whether you're waiting for snow or otherwise.
Just SNOW Already! by Howard McWilliam was published September 1 2023 by Flashlight Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
April 21, 2024
From Amazon:
When the forecast calls for snow, one little boy is thrilled. He keeps peeking outside to see if it’s snowing, but he only looks up! His single-minded focus on the sky makes him completely miss the increasingly comical chaos occurring outside his door, which includes a monster truck, a firetruck, escaped monkeys, and carousing clowns. The boy bides his time and tries to wait patiently, but waiting is boring!
As the hours go by and not a snowflake is seen, the boy begins to worry that it might NEVER snow again! That’s no fun! If only he would notice all of the wacky events unfolding outside! Finally, when the boy is just about to give up, the long-awaited white stuff arrives with a single jubilant word - SNOW! All of his frustration instantly disappears, and the boy rushes outside declaring, “I knew it would snow! I knew it!” Still oblivious to the pandemonium around him, he concludes, “Nothing’s as fun as snow!”
Bursting with vibrancy and hilarious details, "Just SNOW Already!" captures children’s love of snow--as well as the frustrating side of waiting-- while offering a humorous lesson about living in the moment and noticing what's around you.
When the forecast calls for snow, one little boy is thrilled. He keeps peeking outside to see if it’s snowing, but he only looks up! His single-minded focus on the sky makes him completely miss the increasingly comical chaos occurring outside his door, which includes a monster truck, a firetruck, escaped monkeys, and carousing clowns. The boy bides his time and tries to wait patiently, but waiting is boring!
As the hours go by and not a snowflake is seen, the boy begins to worry that it might NEVER snow again! That’s no fun! If only he would notice all of the wacky events unfolding outside! Finally, when the boy is just about to give up, the long-awaited white stuff arrives with a single jubilant word - SNOW! All of his frustration instantly disappears, and the boy rushes outside declaring, “I knew it would snow! I knew it!” Still oblivious to the pandemonium around him, he concludes, “Nothing’s as fun as snow!”
Bursting with vibrancy and hilarious details, "Just SNOW Already!" captures children’s love of snow--as well as the frustrating side of waiting-- while offering a humorous lesson about living in the moment and noticing what's around you.
March 18, 2024
Blurb: Just SNOW Already!, by Howard McWilliam, published by Flashlight Press, follows a young boy who is excited when he learns it’s a snow day. When the snow is delayed, however, he focuses on how boring it is without snow…only to miss complete and utter hilarious chaos occurring outside including escaped monkeys and a carousel of clowns!
#SeasonsOfKidLit.com says: McWilliam’s hilarious text along with his vibrant and detailed illustrations are a wonderful pair. This story is full of humor and surprises – each surprise more unbelievable than the next. This is an excellent reminder to kids that, while some things may take longer than you’d like, to look around and enjoy the moment. This is a perfect read for winter or for whenever you need a good laugh.
#SeasonsOfKidLit.com says: McWilliam’s hilarious text along with his vibrant and detailed illustrations are a wonderful pair. This story is full of humor and surprises – each surprise more unbelievable than the next. This is an excellent reminder to kids that, while some things may take longer than you’d like, to look around and enjoy the moment. This is a perfect read for winter or for whenever you need a good laugh.
November 21, 2023
Brief summary: A boy excitedly waits for the snow expected that evening in his neighborhood. He dreams of all the wonderful things he will do in the snow. He keeps checking out the window, not noticing all of the stupendous things taking place on his street, believing that nothing is happening because there is no snow yet.
He begins to wonder what it would mean if it never snowed again.
Comments: The details in these illustrations are action-packed and hilarious. I love the boy's giant head and all of his facial expressions. This would be a fantastic read-aloud for kids, especially the day before the first snowfall of the year.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗 1/2
He begins to wonder what it would mean if it never snowed again.
Comments: The details in these illustrations are action-packed and hilarious. I love the boy's giant head and all of his facial expressions. This would be a fantastic read-aloud for kids, especially the day before the first snowfall of the year.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗 1/2
December 4, 2023
I received an electronic copy from the Publishers Weekly Winter/Spring 2024 Grab-a Galley.
Readers meet a young boy who can't wait for it to snow. His dad tells him it is supposed to snow that day so he continually checks the window to see if it happening. Each time, he tells readers that nothing is happening. However, readers get to see the actual activities on the street outside his window. There is so much going on, readers can study the illustrations over and over again. I appreciate the humor involved as the narrator is tunnel focused on snow and completely misses so much activity around him. Excellent option to teach about looking beyond one focus point.
Readers meet a young boy who can't wait for it to snow. His dad tells him it is supposed to snow that day so he continually checks the window to see if it happening. Each time, he tells readers that nothing is happening. However, readers get to see the actual activities on the street outside his window. There is so much going on, readers can study the illustrations over and over again. I appreciate the humor involved as the narrator is tunnel focused on snow and completely misses so much activity around him. Excellent option to teach about looking beyond one focus point.
December 7, 2023
A fantastic blend of text and illustration! As a child waits anxiously for the first snow in a cozy neighborhood of pastel houses, he ignores the drama unfolding below him. Absolutely nothing is as important to him as the first flakes of falling snow - not firemen rescuing a cat from a tree, or monkeys escaping from a Safari Park to ice skate in the street. An abundance of unusual events unroll one after the other, while the child has eyes only for the sky! This is a book to be savored. Each page can be pored over again and again to find new and wonderful things!! Great for bedtime read-alouds but a must for library collections!!
May 22, 2024
The weatherman says it’s going to snow. Hurray! Is it snowing now? No. Ten minutes later. Is it snowing now? No. Peering out the window, wishing and waiting for the snow to begin, a young boy concentrates on the clouds in the sky hoping to coax them into making snowflakes fall. But he’s missing all the activity on his street. He gets so tired of waiting that when the snow does fall, he almost misses it. If it weren’t for mom suggesting he check the window one more time, he would have. Just Snow Already, written and illustrated by Howard McWilliam captures a child’s anticipation of one of the joyous things of their winter season.
May 23, 2025
I love how in this book there are two or three or even more stories you could tell. The first is our main story—a little boy waits for it to snow and gets impatient when it doesn’t happen right away. As he goes over to the window, we look out and see another story—this one of a cat stuck in a tree. And another—of two movers (a “Friends” reference?) trying to get a couch up to the second floor of an apartment. And we see several other “stories” happening. Just proof that life is what happens when you are making other plans, as John Lennon said. :)
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 73
#MonarchAwardNominees2026
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 73
#MonarchAwardNominees2026
November 8, 2023
What a darling little winter tale! I adore the illustrations of this dear book - we could look at them over and over again. Just SNOW Already! shows us a little boy, anxiously searching out his window for any signs of snow. He just knows it will never snow. He wanders the house, bored as can be, waiting and waiting and waiting. The clever part of this silly story is the scene that follows each time he checks the window - the street outside his house. McWilliam has given us a delightful little story-in-a-story with chaos and pandemonium outside, all of which the boys misses, because he's looking for snow. It's delightful. Kids love to know something the character doesn't.
Read as a nomination in the 2023 Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
Overall, the book has a fun Chris Van Dusen style and look. Really great.
Read as a nomination in the 2023 Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
Overall, the book has a fun Chris Van Dusen style and look. Really great.
May 2, 2025
All he wants is for a snowy day, and not even the fun happenings outside his home catch his attention. When the forecast announces that it will snow, that's just what he's looking for! But each time he looks outside for even a frost, he gets nothing! But while he keeps preparing for a snowy day such as getting dressed for a big snow day, he doesn't realize how many funny mishaps involving trucks and monkeys are just around the corner.
I loved turning the pages, while wondering if it would ever snow too!
I loved turning the pages, while wondering if it would ever snow too!
July 21, 2023
*I received a DRC of this book.
This is a good story about being patient. It was a relatable story in which the protagonist, a young boy, spends most of the book waiting and waiting and waiting for something. In this case, it is snow, and he wants it to snow more than anything. It is only after he gives up that it… may or may not snow. :) I enjoyed reading this fun winter book, and I would recommend it to kids and parents. Also, the illustrations are beautiful, and they fit the story well.
This is a good story about being patient. It was a relatable story in which the protagonist, a young boy, spends most of the book waiting and waiting and waiting for something. In this case, it is snow, and he wants it to snow more than anything. It is only after he gives up that it… may or may not snow. :) I enjoyed reading this fun winter book, and I would recommend it to kids and parents. Also, the illustrations are beautiful, and they fit the story well.
August 29, 2023
We absolutely adored this book!
It is now one of our very favourite books- we laughed so hard, and we kept flipping back the pages to look at the scenes more closely and see every detail.
Our kids kept yelling "Look OUTSIDE" and "Look how much FUN is happening out there!"
This is such a special book, and so great for kids of all ages. It makes for such a fun read-aloud, and even though it is about snow, it is perfect all year round!
Get this book!
It is now one of our very favourite books- we laughed so hard, and we kept flipping back the pages to look at the scenes more closely and see every detail.
Our kids kept yelling "Look OUTSIDE" and "Look how much FUN is happening out there!"
This is such a special book, and so great for kids of all ages. It makes for such a fun read-aloud, and even though it is about snow, it is perfect all year round!
Get this book!
June 24, 2024
Snow is in the forecast. A young boy really, really wants it to snow. But each time he looks out the window, he is disappointed and says that nothing is happening. He is disappointed. However, this is a story where much of the action is taking place in the pictures...and the boy is wrong...all kinds of things are happening in his neighborhood (just not snow!) This is humorous and such a fun read.
November 14, 2025
Adorable and a fitting day for me to read, as we got our first (light) snow of the season last night/early this morning! So I can relate to the anticipated buildup, even though November is early for snow.
Love the before and after snow illustrations, along with the various vignettes of comical happenings in the neighborhood!
Highly recommended, especially if you're waiting for the first major snow.
Love the before and after snow illustrations, along with the various vignettes of comical happenings in the neighborhood!
Highly recommended, especially if you're waiting for the first major snow.
December 25, 2025
When his dad tells him it's about to snow, a young boy gets so excited, he waits at the window in anticipation. He imagines all the fun he'll have in the snow: making snow angels and a snowman, and sledding down the hill. The boy's eagerness presses up against him as he keeps rushing to the window, waiting for the snow. This is a fun book to read as kids wait for the snow to pile enough to go out and play in it.
November 15, 2023
A very clever book featuring two of my favorite subjects: snow and observation. A little boy learns it will be a snow day... and spends the whole day waiting. Meanwhile the illustrations tell a completely different story of all the things going on right outside his window. Clever and surprising, I found myself laughing out loud. Five stars for an emotional response.
November 30, 2023
A little boy is waiting for it to snow. He knows that when it snows, everything will be wonderful.
In the meantime, all sorts of exciting things are going on outside, but the child does not notice.
Just the sort of book that children love to study closely...just the sort of book that makes kids and grownups smile.
In the meantime, all sorts of exciting things are going on outside, but the child does not notice.
Just the sort of book that children love to study closely...just the sort of book that makes kids and grownups smile.
December 10, 2023
Absolutely loved this book! It’s a fun story about a boy who really wants to play in the snow and keeps looking outside to see if it snows, but every time he looks “nothing is happening”. The gorgeous detailed illustrations show that contrary to the boy’s observations a lot of interesting things are happening to lots of characters in the street. A fun book to explore with a little one!
January 8, 2024
A very cute book about a kid being impatient that it hasn't snowed yet. The illustrations are hilarious. Every time he looks out the window the chaos grows and the boy is mad "nothing is happening" because there isn't snow. Best for one-on-one story due to the many small details in the illustrations. You could spend a long time looking at the small details of the chaos outside.
January 17, 2024
A boy is so EXCITED when his dad mentions it might snow today. But when he keeps looking out the window, he doesn’t see snow, but plenty of other crazy,silly and normal things are happening in his neighborhood which doesn’t notice. A fun book to look at the inventive illustrations as the story is read. Illustrations are top notch. Cute endpapers-compare the front & back.
April 22, 2024
After hearing that it might snow, a young boy runs to the window every few minutes to see if it's snowing yet. In his mind, nothing is happening because it isn't snowing. However, with each turn of the page, more and more is going on on the block: house painters, movers, dogs chasing cats, escaped monkeys, and more. Finally the snow comes and he's happy.
May 15, 2024
I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. This book would be the perfect book for any little kid that hates to wait for things. I know a few impatient kiddos that this would be great for! HA! There is so much going on throughout the book. Every single page is filled with detail and it just keeps getting better.
August 13, 2024
"It might snow today." The young boy is excited about snow, but he gets tired of waiting. Every time he looks out the window, he keeps saying nothng is happening. There is a lot of stuff going on out the window, it's just not snow! What if it doesn't snow? Read by Julianna Margulies on Storyline Online.
January 8, 2025
Fun illustrations that could give kids a lot to look at and discuss! I do wish that the main character had a better realization of the book’s theme (the importance of noticing details around you) - the reader gets it, but the main character never acknowledges it, which I feel would be a better ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews