What do you think?
Rate this book
Best in Snow
Discover the wonderful world of snow with this companion to the celebrated Raindrops Roll !
With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre sheds sparkly new light on the wonders of snow. From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.
With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre sheds sparkly new light on the wonders of snow. From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
4 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
April Pulley Sayre
106 books105 followersApril Pulley Sayre was an award-winning children’s book author of over 55 natural history books for children and adults. Her read-aloud nonfiction books, known for their lyricism and scientific precision, have been translated into French, Dutch, Japanese, and Korean. She is best known for pioneering literary ways to immerse young readers in natural events via creative storytelling and unusual perspectives.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
February 6, 2017
Best in Snow is one of the most beautiful winter children's books you'll find. It's very educational and explains winter precipitation, even touching on the water cycle. The pictures of the animals and birds in the snow are captivating. It really makes you love winter! How beautiful are the cardinals and blue jay's in a winter wonderland.
November 29, 2018
Now as someone who has always and since early childhood absolutely loved loved loved winter as a season and of course especially snow (and indeed considerably more so than ANY other season except perhaps autumn with its colourful foliage), April Pulley Sayre's featured and presented photographs are truly and for a certainty a pure and utterly wonderful, sweet and actually even aesthetically awesome visual delight (caressing all of my senses and filling my heart and soul with fond and enchanting images of white expanses of snowy magic and wonder). And yes indeed, if Best in Snow were wordless except for the wonderful (and much enlightening) supplemental scientific information on snow (and of course also the appreciated short but more than sufficiently detailed enough bibliographical list for suggestions for further perusal and reading), Best in Snow would most definitely be at least a four and likely even a possible five star book for me.
However, I do have to admit that I have not really all that much enjoyed the author/illustrator's accompanying snow poem (or rather I should say that I have not found the way that April Pulley Sayre's verses have been presented in Best in Snow all that much to my personal tastes and all that successfully rendered). For while the poem in and of itself is actually descriptive, sweet and engaging (as well as showing a generally successfully and even caressingly flowing rhyming scheme), that very engagingness, that textual flow (and even to a certain extent the meanings, the thematics of April Pulley Sayre's printed verses, her words on paper so to speak) are (at least in my humble opinion) broken and shattered a bit by having the poem not appear as a single entity on one page, but having its verses shown bit by bit as accompaniments to the snow and snow animals photographs (which to and for me leaves the presented text, the featured glorification of snow lyrics of Best in Snow more than a bit choppy and inadvertently uneven, and at least for and to me not nearly as enjoyable as reading Pulley Sayre's poem as a single one page unit would and could be).
However, I do have to admit that I have not really all that much enjoyed the author/illustrator's accompanying snow poem (or rather I should say that I have not found the way that April Pulley Sayre's verses have been presented in Best in Snow all that much to my personal tastes and all that successfully rendered). For while the poem in and of itself is actually descriptive, sweet and engaging (as well as showing a generally successfully and even caressingly flowing rhyming scheme), that very engagingness, that textual flow (and even to a certain extent the meanings, the thematics of April Pulley Sayre's printed verses, her words on paper so to speak) are (at least in my humble opinion) broken and shattered a bit by having the poem not appear as a single entity on one page, but having its verses shown bit by bit as accompaniments to the snow and snow animals photographs (which to and for me leaves the presented text, the featured glorification of snow lyrics of Best in Snow more than a bit choppy and inadvertently uneven, and at least for and to me not nearly as enjoyable as reading Pulley Sayre's poem as a single one page unit would and could be).
December 21, 2018
Oh my goodness. Gorgeous photos in a *slightly* larger than average picture-book. Poetic narrative that will make a philosopher out of a scientist, or vice-versa. It even makes me want it to snow once more here so I can out and really really look at it... even though I grew up in Wisconsin and am very familiar with winter. Good appendices. Should be in every educator's toolbox, preK-12, because it could be taught in so many ways. (Nature study, mentor text, science, free verse poetry, photography....)
January 22, 2019
Talk about gorgeous pictures. This book boasts real photography of winter scenery. I read it to a particularly distracted group of kiddos, and they paid attention and reacted to the questions I was asking about it. Great stuff.
December 8, 2018
Best in Snow had beautiful photographs but was somehow not as fulfilling as it might have been. We enjoyed it, but it's not one the kids have asked for again and I honestly don't remember much about it except snowflakes on a squirrel's nose or something to that effect? And the beautiful blue jay on the cover, of course. I did appreciate that it was more poetic than just plain informational.
November 16, 2016
While it's not a exactly poetry book, I would include this in your lessons on word choice and imagery. Beautiful photographs. Don't miss the additional scientific information about snow in the back.
December 26, 2017
Stunningly beautiful photos by the author highlight this nonfiction look at our wintry world.
March 16, 2017
This is the sort of work the book award idiots pass over in favor of hipster crap, and it's a damn shame.
Okay, I am a snow lover. But even snow haters will be knocked over by this book, which has exquisite photos of animals and plants in the snow. This wouldn't work well for story time, but would be perfect to pore over with a child in your lap. The details are incredible.
Okay, I am a snow lover. But even snow haters will be knocked over by this book, which has exquisite photos of animals and plants in the snow. This wouldn't work well for story time, but would be perfect to pore over with a child in your lap. The details are incredible.
October 17, 2016
Excellent introduction of snowfall to young children!
December 31, 2016
This picturebook had beautiful photography but was a little slow-moving for me. It would make a great 1 on 1 winter read.
February 7, 2019
I love this book because I enjoy winter and partly because I think I could have taken any of the photos in this book. The photos are beautiful and the simple text that accompanies them makes it a perfect book for young children or adults like me that love winter.
June 20, 2018
Nonfiction #1
Pulley, April Sayre. (2016). Best in snow. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books.
Possible crossover subject: Science
Fiction Twin Text:
Paola, Tomie de. (2016). Andy & Sandy and the first snow. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Best in Snow doesn’t appear to be the typical nonfiction book about snow, what it is, and the cycle of snow. The book is filled with beautiful photographs of snow in different forms, snowflakes, icicles, slush. The book has simple phrases on each page, such as “snowflakes land on a squirrel’s nose”, and, “snow drifts”. The last two pages are more informative about snow. These pages quickly educate the reader on the different forms of ventby using the simple phrases from the book as subcategories. The book also briefly explains how different bodies of water are formed by melted snow, and that body of water then goes through the life cycle of water and eventually forms new snow. The obvious connection I made between these two texts was the subject of snow. However, in Andy & Sandy and the First Snow, the plot of the story is how Sandy loves the snow and finds lots of fun things to do in the snow, like build a snowman, make snow angels, and go sledding. Andy doesn’t like the snow as much, constantly calling it “very wet and very cold”. In the end, Sandy is soaking wet from all her playing in the snow and exclaims that the snow is “very wet and very cold” while Andy has learned that he actually loves playing in the snow too. I think a good interactive strategy to teach about snow would be the K-W-L strategy. A teacher could lead with Andy & Sandy and the First Snow. Students would then be able to come up with things they know about snow, for instance that it is “very wet and very cold”. Students then would need to come up with a set of questions for what they would like to know about snow, perhaps “how is snow created” or “what happens when snow starts to melt”. After questions have been written down, the student could read (or be read to) Best In Snow. Because the book doesn’t go into descriptive detail like a typical nonfiction book and has the look and tone of a picture book, students can quickly gain insight into what snow is. The last two pages is where the students would find more answers about snow, and would hopefully learn that snow is part of the water cycle, that it occurs when water vapors in the clouds get so cold that they freeze and form snowflakes, or that when snow melts it does not just become water again, but can turn into slush, which is a mixture of both frozen and liquid water.
Pulley, April Sayre. (2016). Best in snow. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books.
Possible crossover subject: Science
Fiction Twin Text:
Paola, Tomie de. (2016). Andy & Sandy and the first snow. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Best in Snow doesn’t appear to be the typical nonfiction book about snow, what it is, and the cycle of snow. The book is filled with beautiful photographs of snow in different forms, snowflakes, icicles, slush. The book has simple phrases on each page, such as “snowflakes land on a squirrel’s nose”, and, “snow drifts”. The last two pages are more informative about snow. These pages quickly educate the reader on the different forms of ventby using the simple phrases from the book as subcategories. The book also briefly explains how different bodies of water are formed by melted snow, and that body of water then goes through the life cycle of water and eventually forms new snow. The obvious connection I made between these two texts was the subject of snow. However, in Andy & Sandy and the First Snow, the plot of the story is how Sandy loves the snow and finds lots of fun things to do in the snow, like build a snowman, make snow angels, and go sledding. Andy doesn’t like the snow as much, constantly calling it “very wet and very cold”. In the end, Sandy is soaking wet from all her playing in the snow and exclaims that the snow is “very wet and very cold” while Andy has learned that he actually loves playing in the snow too. I think a good interactive strategy to teach about snow would be the K-W-L strategy. A teacher could lead with Andy & Sandy and the First Snow. Students would then be able to come up with things they know about snow, for instance that it is “very wet and very cold”. Students then would need to come up with a set of questions for what they would like to know about snow, perhaps “how is snow created” or “what happens when snow starts to melt”. After questions have been written down, the student could read (or be read to) Best In Snow. Because the book doesn’t go into descriptive detail like a typical nonfiction book and has the look and tone of a picture book, students can quickly gain insight into what snow is. The last two pages is where the students would find more answers about snow, and would hopefully learn that snow is part of the water cycle, that it occurs when water vapors in the clouds get so cold that they freeze and form snowflakes, or that when snow melts it does not just become water again, but can turn into slush, which is a mixture of both frozen and liquid water.
February 5, 2017
A companion book to Raindrops Roll, this book celebrates the wonder of snow. Combining lovely photography with a poem on the changing nature of snow, this picture book invites readers to see beyond the chill of winter and into the beauty of it. The book moves from freezing weather and gathering clouds to a full snowstorm where snowflakes land on a squirrel’s nose. The snow covers things and the wind blows. Then the sun returns, water starts to seep and icicles drip. But wait, there’s more snow on the way and another squirrel’s nose too.
Sayre has a beautiful tone here, one of wonder and deep understanding. She writes more detailed information about snow and water in a note at the end that also includes a bibliography of more resources. The progression of the book is lovely, moving from one storm into a brief respite of sun to another storm, something that those of us in a cold climate will recognize. The poetry is a mix of playfulness and natural facts that is very appealing.
Sayre’s photography is truly beautiful. She captures the motion of snow, the various way that the light hits it, the different forms it takes. She has images of animals and birds, allowing the reader to see snow from a natural point of view rather than a human one.
This is a wintry journey worth taking, perfect with a mug of cocoa. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Sayre has a beautiful tone here, one of wonder and deep understanding. She writes more detailed information about snow and water in a note at the end that also includes a bibliography of more resources. The progression of the book is lovely, moving from one storm into a brief respite of sun to another storm, something that those of us in a cold climate will recognize. The poetry is a mix of playfulness and natural facts that is very appealing.
Sayre’s photography is truly beautiful. She captures the motion of snow, the various way that the light hits it, the different forms it takes. She has images of animals and birds, allowing the reader to see snow from a natural point of view rather than a human one.
This is a wintry journey worth taking, perfect with a mug of cocoa. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
March 12, 2018
Fair disclosure: I love snow like nothing else, so a book like this is definitely up my alley. The photography is stunning and I can definitely see reading this to a young'un (probably around kindergarten or earlier) and then going on a hike or playing in the front yard on a snow day or something. The text is unobtrusive in terms of layout and of a playful font that isn't irksomely goofy (if you don't have an image of an "irksomely goofy" font in your head, you need to read more children's books. They definitely exist) and it isn't overly sing-song-y (though it does rhyme). There are also a couple of pages in the back looking at the science of snow and the water cycle and all that in case you want to have a learning moment as well as just admiring snow and animals.
But man, the pictures are pretty.
But man, the pictures are pretty.
Read
June 22, 2018Best in Snow is a fictional story about snow fall and all that it brings and I would use it to teach a science lesson about winter and the season changing from fall to winter. As a twin text I would use the book Winter is for Snow by Robert Neubecker and published on October 29, 2013. Winter is for Snow is about two siblings trying to have fun in the snow by doing all the fun things like building a snowman, sledding and other winter activities. I think that this book would be a good opening to the Best in Snow book because it is a playful look at all the fun things you can do in the snow and then listening to the non-fiction book about how snow happens and all the things it does would be easier for the kids to pay attention to and to understand.
February 7, 2017
I have always found Sayre's books to be beautifully put together in both text and photograph. This book is no different. The photographs emphasize the attributes of winter and especially snow. And the pages are broken up into different sized photographs emphasizing different aspects of the poem. The full two-page spread of the squirrel with snowflakes on it's nose is especially striking. The poem itself is also beautiful with only a few words per page, allowing the reader to absorb the meaning from the photographs and really appreciate the beauty of winter. Sayre's created another winner of a book, great for pure enjoyment or teaching.
March 17, 2017
While the striking photographs will draw young readers into this book, the poetic language is what really stands out to me. With just a few words on each page, April Pulley Sayre conveys the magic and wonder of a snowy day.
This simple, concise language encourages readers to linger, look at the illustrations, and think about the word choice. Just look at the verbs she's choosing: sails, settles, dusts.
Pair with Shelley Rotner's Hello Spring for a great compare/contrast in writing style & subject.
"Snowflakes land on a squirrel's nose. / Snow sails. It settles, / shows shapes, dusts wings."
This simple, concise language encourages readers to linger, look at the illustrations, and think about the word choice. Just look at the verbs she's choosing: sails, settles, dusts.
Pair with Shelley Rotner's Hello Spring for a great compare/contrast in writing style & subject.
June 22, 2018
For the content area crossover I would choose science. This could be used in discussion of the subject of the seasons changing. For my twin text I have selected Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak. This title would enhance the discussion of seasons changing going from fall into winter. The students could discuss what they saw happening in the change of seasons and predict what will happen in Best in Snow where it focuses more on winter. I would use a Venn Diagram to have students compare the differences between Fall and winter, and what similarities they do share.
Pak, K. (2017). Goodbye autumn, hello winter. New York: Godwin Books.
Pak, K. (2017). Goodbye autumn, hello winter. New York: Godwin Books.
September 7, 2017
A treasure! Fantastic photos of nature and critters...all surrounded by snow. The 'story' takes us through a freeze, snowfalls, thaws, and more snow. I can see kids poring over the double-spread photos with wonder. I can see teachers coaxing out more and more details from the pictures to enhance the minimal text...just a few words on each page.I can see vocabulary lessons, science lessons...I can see wonder, field trips in the snow...and maybe expanding to make books about other seasons.
This is a magnificent gem of words and images.
This is a magnificent gem of words and images.
March 4, 2025
A poem with photographs about winter.
2017 storytime theme: favs
2021 storytime theme: Book Boogie - Winter Colors
2022 storytime theme: snow animals
2022 storytime theme: frost
2025 storytime theme: cardinals
I did tell the storytimers to watch for the male and female cardinals in the book. The female picture is easy to spot. The male is trickier because he is on the back of the book. They found them!
Reviewed from a library copy.
2017 storytime theme: favs
2021 storytime theme: Book Boogie - Winter Colors
2022 storytime theme: snow animals
2022 storytime theme: frost
2025 storytime theme: cardinals
I did tell the storytimers to watch for the male and female cardinals in the book. The female picture is easy to spot. The male is trickier because he is on the back of the book. They found them!
Reviewed from a library copy.
March 18, 2018
As thankful as I am that winter is over, these stunning photographs and lyrical poetry make me yearn for one more snowfall.
I don’t know enough about how photography style works to figure out how I managed to make the connection, but I opened this book and at the second page wondered if this was the same author as the Raindrops Roll book. I checked the cover and sure enough it is!
I don’t know enough about how photography style works to figure out how I managed to make the connection, but I opened this book and at the second page wondered if this was the same author as the Raindrops Roll book. I checked the cover and sure enough it is!
November 14, 2016
I feel that squirrel on the flap of the dust jacket on a deep, personal level.
The photography in this book is simply stunning. Simple words, rhyming text, it's great for even the youngest storytime attendees. Pictures like this always get lots of oooooohs.
The photography in this book is simply stunning. Simple words, rhyming text, it's great for even the youngest storytime attendees. Pictures like this always get lots of oooooohs.
February 27, 2017
The detailed photographs, paired with spare lyrical phrases describing the stages of snow, are enhanced by the back matter that gives extensive facts and information on the science at work with snow.
December 2, 2016
Exquisite!
December 14, 2016
This book is visually so stunning it made me almost not hate winter, which, as I look at tomorrow's high which is below freezing says a lot.
February 9, 2017
Fantastic color photos of snow, icicles and animals in the snow.
March 16, 2017
Such a beautiful book.
December 17, 2017
Redbud nominee. The pictures in this book are beautiful!
January 29, 2018
Really enjoyed how cute this book was. And the photography was BEAUTIFUL. I hope I’ll get to one day read this to my children.
October 22, 2018
The text is quite simple (though there is more information in a note at the end), but the photographs are stunning!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews