Lyrical poetry and stunning paintings showcase the surprise, the fun, and the beauty of everyone's favorite winter adventure: snow!
Some snow is First Snow, we've waited for so long snow. Is it really snow snow or only heavy rain?
Starting with the thrill and excitement over the first flakes falling from the sky, we follow three young neighbors enjoying all types of snow through the season. From sleet and fluff snow that isn't good for anything to angel snow, snowball snow, driveway snow (which can lead to the best forts), tracking snow, sledding snow, snow day snow, and all the way to the last snow which is exciting in its own way:
Soon, soon, all gone snow. We've waited for so long snow. Please, please, no more snow. Our bikes are whispering.
Beautiful verse and evocative energetic illustrations perfectly hit all the right exciting and cozy notes that children will savor every winter!
The words to this fun read have a rhythm and meter that is fun to read, and the artwork that covers each page is bright and engaging. All kinds of snow are depicted, and as half of our group lives in places with snow, they were murmuring their approval and pointing out favorites. The other half, just listened, overcome with a longing for something they don't get to experience very often.
The book was dedicated to 3 siblings (we always read the dedications), and since our group is a mix of siblings, cousins and occasional visitors, everyone participated with tribal accord.
A perfect book for Winter – an ode to snow! This story follows three children as they experience all different types of snow, that wet snow that melts when it hits the ground to snow that’s good for making snowballs and snow forts. This book will give you ideas for ways you and your family can spend time outside this Winter. There is rhyming and repetition (the word snow is said a lot throughout this book), which is great for young readers learning new words, as well as the opportunity to discuss the changing seasons. This book does a great job of highlighting the wonder of this time of year, showing how much fun can be had when we get outside and get into snow.
In full disclosure I will say that I know Ellen Yeomans, the author of this book. It has been a couple of decades since we've communicated (Ellen was in charge of a chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and I did some work for her at that time).
Snow can be quite magical - especially when you are a child. Here three young neighbors explore the snow and notice the differences between the kinds of snows.
This book is absolutely adorable. The poetry of the language is beautiful and very appropriate for reading to children and getting a sense of wonder and joy and snow.
The artwork by Andrea Offermann is really delightful. A vital part of any picture book is the artwork since most of the children who read/listen to a book will be captivated by the pictures. There is plenty here that will keep youngsters engaged with the book.
I would highly recommend this book to parents and grandparents looking for a great winter picture book.
Looking for a good book? Some Snow Is... by Ellen Yeomans with art by Andrea Offermann is a beautiful book, in both pictures and words, for youngsters.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
How many snows are there? According to this book, there are many different kinds of snow and each kind is chronicled in this lovely expressive picture book that takes readers through the snow possibilities of three seasons and kids reactions to them: From first snow ("Some snow is First Snow. /We've waited for so long snow. /It it really snow snow?/or only heavy rain?") to Sleet Snow, Fluff Snow, Angel Snow (snow angels everywhere), Snowball Snow, Driveway Snow (the worst, lots of shoveling), Tracking Snow (which critters belong to those footprints), Yellow Snow (stay away from that snow), Sledding Snow, Snow Day Snow, Snowman Snow, and Spring Snow (mostly mud and rain), until finally, there's no more snow ("Soon, soon, all gone snow./We've waited for so long snow./Please, please, no more snow.../our bikes are whispering") and spring is on the way. I love books that pull my kids into lively conversations and this one really did that. Each four line stanza ends with the word snow, except the last line, so there is really a wonderful melodic quality to each kind of snow. The season watercolor, pen and ink illustrations are detailed and really added to the snow conversations we had as my young readers explored each page thoroughly. The truth of this book is that we are always excited for the first snow and tired of the last one.
Usually in northern Michigan our snow arrives and leaves annually as anticipated. When the first snow falls it is not unusual for everyone to pause, wherever they are, and watch, a soft sigh escaping unbidden. (Or, in the case of my students, running to the bank of windows at the back of the library, and laughing out loud.) Yet, when the final patch of snow melts, months later, it's cause for jubilation. Normally, the snow changes from month to month in texture and depth. This year, though, has been one of many surprises.
Our snow goes from a stormy seven inches deep to gooey-wet in a matter of days. It's as if Spring does not want to let Winter have its proper time. This weather gives us a huge variety of ever-changing snow characteristics. Some Snow Is . . . (Putnam, G. P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC, November 5, 2019) written by Ellen Yeomans with illustrations by Andrea Offermann offers readers an ode to all the various types of snow.
This book is so perfect. I don't think I've ever read a book that tells you which type of snow is good for what. That was so smart to do. Perfect for preschool or kindergarten, maybe even 1st grade. It really is about everything you could use snow for. I thought the rhythm was right on. It's not perfect rhyming, but it's not supposed to be. It's more of a fun rhythm. I really really love the idea behind this book.
3.5- This book got me with nostalgia, starting with the dedication page: "Some books are sibling books. For Brad, Jeff, and Laura. They know snow."
It makes me think of my days as a kid with my sisters, trundling outside in our bulky snow gear ready to play. I've faced every kind of snow in this book. And the feeling at the end of the book too! Great poetry (although I'm a bit sick of reading the word 'snow').
Beautiful Poetry and gorgeous illustrations presenting the coming and going of the winter season. We see the winters by the perspective of kids. It is very fascinating to look at those gorgeous illustrations complementing the poem. It is a short read but children will enjoy reading and re-reading it.
This book reminded me of my childhood & being excited about snow. But then there is snow you're not so excited to see. This book introduces these different types of snow to readers and it will have them hungry to go sledding, make a snowman, have snowball fights, etc. I also really loved the illustrations! A great story to read this time of year & especially when it SNOWS!!!!
A great one for getting kids amped up for the types of snow and different activities the winter will bring. Not so useful in Vancouver lately, but would have been a hit with the kids in Northern Quebec. Wasn't crazy about the lettering. The small size of the text made the book look more serious and less fun than it actually was.
Fun book about all the different kinds of snow( slushy, new, driveway, angel, no school etc) Good for a preschool story time or even a school age winter program. The author really did capture all the variations of snow!
Title that explores all the types of snow, not from a scientific point of view, but from the human view of what type. . .angel snow, snowball snow, tracking snow, snow day snow the best kind of snow, and yes, even yellow snow! A fun look at how humans perceive snow.
Living in a place that gets snow, this will be fun to read to younger grades during January or February to discuss different kinds of snow and different ways kids interact with snow.
Interesting. In Houston, we don't get much snow so I've never given this much thought. My students might be interested to see the different kinds of snow.