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The First snow
It’s common knowledge that there are many shades of snow. As is the fact that it is possible to find just about anything in it, from a lost glove to a careless arctic explorer.
Even though Stefan and Agnes come across something altogether different under the snow that morning, their journey through the dreamlike snow-covered landscape sometimes seems like an expedition to a frozen wilderness. Even so, they still find time to feed the birds and stroke the cat on the way. And even Miss Smilla would be delighted by the shades of snow in the illustrations.
Even though Stefan and Agnes come across something altogether different under the snow that morning, their journey through the dreamlike snow-covered landscape sometimes seems like an expedition to a frozen wilderness. Even so, they still find time to feed the birds and stroke the cat on the way. And even Miss Smilla would be delighted by the shades of snow in the illustrations.
- GenresPicture Books
Unknown Binding
Published August 27, 2024
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 30, 2024
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was reading picture books in preparation for the upcoming holidays… and now I am reading my first picture books of the year about wintertime! These things go hand in hand, but it makes me laugh a little bit since we’re still firmly in summer weather-wise. Marie Štumpfová and Radek Malý's wintry picture book The First Snow, translated by Mark Worthington, is a gorgeously-illustrated and meditative picture book, and its layered, screen printed art will delight readers young and not-so-young.
Stefan and Agnes wake up one morning to a world blanketed in white. They venture out into the newly snowy landscape accompanied only by their tiger-fierce kitty, as their mother has chores to do. Once in the wintry wonderland of their backyard, they find that even common objects have been transformed by deep snow. They make snow angels, follow animal tracks, shovel the path, and then begin building… a polar bear! In a flight of imagination (or is it truly magic?) the children visit the frozen wilds atop the bear’s back before returning to their own backyard and continued surprises.
In this picture book, siblings Agnes and Stefan experience that singular joy of a first snow day as a child, when everything seems impossibly wondrous under a blanket of new-fallen snow. Their whimsical adventures will feel familiar to adults, and spark children’s imaginations. The main characters take moments to marvel at the world around them, and this is reflected in the pacing of the book – it feels as though it should be lingered over as well, like a gorgeous view or any other nature-driven delight.
Worthington’s translation of Štumpfová and Malý’s prose is at times uneven. There are clunky choices of verb tense and contractions where full words might produce a more poetic effect. All that to say – the words don’t all flow perfectly, but small children will not mind this. I admit that as an English teacher, I am becoming more crotchety about words each year! Language choices to celebrate in The First Snow? Plentiful figurative elements in the form of metaphors and similes, such as “quiet as a lamb”, “like being in another world”, and “like winter-flavored ice cream.”
My quibbles with the text do not matter in the grand scheme of things because the art is transcendent! Štumpfová’s illustrations appear to be screen printed, in an array of pastels. The visual elements of this text are truly magnificent – of course there is a lot of white on each page, but all the different colors that snowy white can be – reflected blues, pinks, and even yellows, show up throughout the pages. The screen printing also adds subtle depth, textures, and patterns to the illustrations, and the many different forms that snow can take are the stars. I can’t emphasize how much I love the art – I’d snap up boxes of The First Snow-themed holiday cards and wrapping paper in a hot second!
In all, The First Snow features exquisite art and a story that both young ones and their adults will enjoy reading. It may even spark world-traveling polar bear adventures in backyards after the first snow of *this* season!
Recommended for: fans of seasonal picture books, young readers ages 3-6, and winter holiday gifting!
Stefan and Agnes wake up one morning to a world blanketed in white. They venture out into the newly snowy landscape accompanied only by their tiger-fierce kitty, as their mother has chores to do. Once in the wintry wonderland of their backyard, they find that even common objects have been transformed by deep snow. They make snow angels, follow animal tracks, shovel the path, and then begin building… a polar bear! In a flight of imagination (or is it truly magic?) the children visit the frozen wilds atop the bear’s back before returning to their own backyard and continued surprises.
In this picture book, siblings Agnes and Stefan experience that singular joy of a first snow day as a child, when everything seems impossibly wondrous under a blanket of new-fallen snow. Their whimsical adventures will feel familiar to adults, and spark children’s imaginations. The main characters take moments to marvel at the world around them, and this is reflected in the pacing of the book – it feels as though it should be lingered over as well, like a gorgeous view or any other nature-driven delight.
Worthington’s translation of Štumpfová and Malý’s prose is at times uneven. There are clunky choices of verb tense and contractions where full words might produce a more poetic effect. All that to say – the words don’t all flow perfectly, but small children will not mind this. I admit that as an English teacher, I am becoming more crotchety about words each year! Language choices to celebrate in The First Snow? Plentiful figurative elements in the form of metaphors and similes, such as “quiet as a lamb”, “like being in another world”, and “like winter-flavored ice cream.”
My quibbles with the text do not matter in the grand scheme of things because the art is transcendent! Štumpfová’s illustrations appear to be screen printed, in an array of pastels. The visual elements of this text are truly magnificent – of course there is a lot of white on each page, but all the different colors that snowy white can be – reflected blues, pinks, and even yellows, show up throughout the pages. The screen printing also adds subtle depth, textures, and patterns to the illustrations, and the many different forms that snow can take are the stars. I can’t emphasize how much I love the art – I’d snap up boxes of The First Snow-themed holiday cards and wrapping paper in a hot second!
In all, The First Snow features exquisite art and a story that both young ones and their adults will enjoy reading. It may even spark world-traveling polar bear adventures in backyards after the first snow of *this* season!
Recommended for: fans of seasonal picture books, young readers ages 3-6, and winter holiday gifting!
February 6, 2025
A little long for a 3 year old. Liked the story and the imagination the children used as they played.
June 4, 2024
Review of Albatross Media's English language edition, published August 27, 2024
Stefan and Agnes' village is covered in snow and looks completely different. The two head out to have adventures in the winter weather, clad in snowsuits and mittens and armed with birdseed. They try to identify snow covered objects, make snow angels, taste the falling snow, and track animals. They even clean off the path so that there mother doesn't have to and can play with them later. Then, they enter an imaginary world, traveling on the back of a snow bear that they have created. When they return (still with the bear in their company), they feed the birds some seed, and find an abandoned green house that has become an ice palace. Inside, they discover a necklace, and take it to their mother, who says it was one that she lost when she was younger. The three head back out into the snow to enjoy the magical winter landscape.
The illustration style is very dreamy, and rendered in soft shades of teal and peach, with a very light chalk pastel effect that makes it seem like everything on the page is as muted by the snow as it is in real life. Even the outlines are done in a darker peach, which adds to this very soft, unfocused effect. The cover has some silver on it, which makes it very appealing, and the end papers have white snowflakes on teal that would make lovely wrapping paper.
There are so many good details of what the world is like when it snows. The light seems brighter in the morning, since the sun is reflecting off the snow. The flakes taste fresh (the village looks to be far from the city!), and the air is crisp. As adults, it's too easy to be annoyed by the snow as it impedes are daily activities, but as children, it's delightful to be able to enjoy a world that is transformed.
Brush off this book, make some cocoa, cuddle under an afghan, and read The First Snow along with a flurry of other winter themed picture books like Davies' The Snowflake, Henkes Winter is Here, Shulevitz' Snow, Thompson's Mouse's First Snow, Koehler's The Little Snow Plow, and Zommer's A Thing Called Snow.
Stefan and Agnes' village is covered in snow and looks completely different. The two head out to have adventures in the winter weather, clad in snowsuits and mittens and armed with birdseed. They try to identify snow covered objects, make snow angels, taste the falling snow, and track animals. They even clean off the path so that there mother doesn't have to and can play with them later. Then, they enter an imaginary world, traveling on the back of a snow bear that they have created. When they return (still with the bear in their company), they feed the birds some seed, and find an abandoned green house that has become an ice palace. Inside, they discover a necklace, and take it to their mother, who says it was one that she lost when she was younger. The three head back out into the snow to enjoy the magical winter landscape.
The illustration style is very dreamy, and rendered in soft shades of teal and peach, with a very light chalk pastel effect that makes it seem like everything on the page is as muted by the snow as it is in real life. Even the outlines are done in a darker peach, which adds to this very soft, unfocused effect. The cover has some silver on it, which makes it very appealing, and the end papers have white snowflakes on teal that would make lovely wrapping paper.
There are so many good details of what the world is like when it snows. The light seems brighter in the morning, since the sun is reflecting off the snow. The flakes taste fresh (the village looks to be far from the city!), and the air is crisp. As adults, it's too easy to be annoyed by the snow as it impedes are daily activities, but as children, it's delightful to be able to enjoy a world that is transformed.
Brush off this book, make some cocoa, cuddle under an afghan, and read The First Snow along with a flurry of other winter themed picture books like Davies' The Snowflake, Henkes Winter is Here, Shulevitz' Snow, Thompson's Mouse's First Snow, Koehler's The Little Snow Plow, and Zommer's A Thing Called Snow.
December 4, 2024
Overnight, it seems as though a normal village has transformed into something magical with the first snowfall of the season. When two young children awake to find snow covering the ground, they cannot wait to venture out and explore. Though their mother has other tasks keeping her in the house, the children play together in the garden, letting their imaginations carry them to far off, wonderful places. And as they find ways to complete the tasks that need to be done, they are able to convince their mother to join them in the snow, as well. This creative picture book transports young readers into the joy and wonder that are found with the first snowfall of the season. Longer, narrative text fills the story, making it best suited to children who enjoy sitting for an extended time as a tale is wound for them. The text itself is presented in a straightforward font, though it is sometimes difficult to read the words against the accompanying illustrations, which takes away some of the enjoyment from the book. However, the softness of the images helps to make up for this fact, and children will appreciate observing how the two young people in this story imagine a whole new world to explore. Originally published in the Czech Republic, this book has been translated to English in an endearing way. This creative, narrative story is a lovely winter welcome for early elementary school-aged children.
December 31, 2024
The first few snows of winter are nothing short of magic, a feeling brilliantly encapsulated in this gorgeous day long walk through the snow with Agnes & Stefan. The work of childhood, shoveling and tracking and building, seamlessly enters the realm of fairytales as a snow bear magically comes to life and takes the children on an expedition to the freezing tundra and all the way back to their frozen yard. The story weaves itself in and back out of imagination, a wonderful representation of the true freedom of play. A glistening cover pulls you in leading you into a world of splendid artwork lively and free in peaceful pastel hues.
A beautiful introduction to little ones and a beautiful reminder to caregivers of the true magic of snow. Excellent selection for your bedtime routine, calm and gentle and ready to send littles to dreams of a winter wonderland.
A beautiful introduction to little ones and a beautiful reminder to caregivers of the true magic of snow. Excellent selection for your bedtime routine, calm and gentle and ready to send littles to dreams of a winter wonderland.
July 25, 2024
I received an electronic ARC from Albatross Media through the SLJ Picture Book Palooza July 2024.
Beautiful soft focused illustrations capture the magic of the first snow. Readers meet two children who wake up to snow and can't wait to go out and explore. They head out and play as children all over do. Then they head off on an adventure on the polar bear they made from snow and see so many Arctic creatures along the way. When they get back, they find a magical ice castle and the Snow Queen's necklace. When they bring it back to their mom, they learn a lovely surprise. To finish the book, all three head off for more adventures.
I appreciate Stomplova and Maly's style in capturing the magic of this event.
Beautiful soft focused illustrations capture the magic of the first snow. Readers meet two children who wake up to snow and can't wait to go out and explore. They head out and play as children all over do. Then they head off on an adventure on the polar bear they made from snow and see so many Arctic creatures along the way. When they get back, they find a magical ice castle and the Snow Queen's necklace. When they bring it back to their mom, they learn a lovely surprise. To finish the book, all three head off for more adventures.
I appreciate Stomplova and Maly's style in capturing the magic of this event.
May 8, 2025
Siblings Stefan and Agnes are thrilled to awaken to snow outside their home. They head outside after donning winter clothing and make snow angels, try to figure out what animal left tracks in the snow, build a snowbear, which comes to life, and head off on an adventure. When they find something beautiful that once belonged to their mother, she is surprised and pleased, and the whole family goes back outside to continue this magical day. The dreamy text and artwork capture the almost indescribable joy and magic of the first snowfall of the year. The emotion is unlike anything else, and it tends to pale over the winter season after the fourth, fifth or tenth snow of the year.
March 18, 2025
“When the first snow starts to fall, it's like a fairy tale for all.”
Stefan and Agnes are mesmerized by the magic of the first 🌨️ snow of the year. After an overnight transformation, they get ready and head out into the sparkly world. Together the siblings use their imaginations to travel on the back of a 🐻❄️ polar bear and find a real treasure ❄️ in a beautiful ice palace.
We experienced our first snowfall on Halloween this year. Ours was not quite as pretty as the imagery in this book, with its pastel pallet and metallic touches on the cover.
Stefan and Agnes are mesmerized by the magic of the first 🌨️ snow of the year. After an overnight transformation, they get ready and head out into the sparkly world. Together the siblings use their imaginations to travel on the back of a 🐻❄️ polar bear and find a real treasure ❄️ in a beautiful ice palace.
We experienced our first snowfall on Halloween this year. Ours was not quite as pretty as the imagery in this book, with its pastel pallet and metallic touches on the cover.
February 7, 2024
4 stars
I read a digital copy courtesy of the translation publisher
It's the magical first snow of the season and the ground is transformed into a wonderland. Agnes and Stefan build a snow sculpture, go on an adventure, feed the birds, shovel some of the walk, and find a treasure!
I read a digital copy courtesy of the translation publisher
It's the magical first snow of the season and the ground is transformed into a wonderland. Agnes and Stefan build a snow sculpture, go on an adventure, feed the birds, shovel some of the walk, and find a treasure!
May 2, 2024
A cute story about two children imaging great things while playing in the first snow.
July 25, 2024
I love the illustrations, but I think the story is too wordy and goes a bit too long for the typical book I would use in my job at the library.
January 10, 2026
Unusual and imaginative.
We loved how the kids wanted to make sure Mama had time to come outside to enjoy the snow too.
We loved how the kids wanted to make sure Mama had time to come outside to enjoy the snow too.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews