No Two Snowflakes

by Sheree Fitch, Janet Wilson (Illustrator)

"What is snow?" Araba, a Ghanaian child, asks her Canadian pen pal. The response unfolds as a letter in poetry, rich in lyricism and in what author Sheree Fitch would call "lipslipperiness." Janet Wilson's glowing pastel illustrations revel in all the sensory experiences, the color, associated with the cold white stuff. Through the asking and the telling, two children reach halfway around the world and touch one another.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

From the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia:

"Sheree Fitch is an educator, literacy activist and author of award winning poetry, picture books, nonfiction, plays and novels for all ages. Her first book, Toes in My Nose, illustrated by Molly Lamb Bobak, was launched in 1987. The books that followed have garnered numerous awards, including The Mr. Christie Award for There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, The Anne Connor Brimer Award for Mable Murple. If You Could Wear my Sneakers, a book on Children's Rights commissioned by Unicef won both the Ontario Silver Birch Award and Atlantic Hackmatack award.

In 1998 she won the prestigious Vicky Metcalf award for a body of work inspirational to Canadian Children. She has been goodwill ambassador for Unicef since 1994 and her lipslippery adventures have taken her to remote parts of the globe.

Her work as a poet and literacy educator has taken her to the Arctic as eight-time poet laureate for Peter Gzowski's fundraisers for literacy and to Bhutan where she taught writing and participated in that country's first national reading week. Author readings have taken her to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Belize and Mexico.

Currently, she is Honorary Spokesperson for the New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy. The coalition recently initiated the Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarships. She is also Honorary Spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Read to Me Program. This program provides literacy information to new parents and books for newborns. Each year she sponsors a writing competition for New Brunswick Youth. Her latest venture in literacy education includes completing a three year (summer ) writer in residency for Somebody's Daughter --- out on the tundra in Nunavut. This is an innovative program for Inuit women started by Bernadette Dean, Sheree's friend and former student from a writing workshop Ftich held during one of her soujourns to the north.

In the fall 2004, Gooselane Editions released an expanded anniversary edition of her adult book of poetry In This House Are Many Women and Orca published Pocket Rocks, illustrated by Helen Flook.

In May 2005, Fitch's first novel (ages ten and up), The Gravesavers, was published by Doubleday Canada Random House. A coming of age story blended with a historical event—the wreck of S.S. Atlantic in 1873—Fitch considers the novel "a kind of love letter" to her Maritime home and a celebration of her roots. Upcoming books include If I Had A Million Onions, a collection of nonsense for all ages and Peek a Little Boo, a book for babies.

Fitch lives with her husband, Gilles Plante and divides her time between Washington D.C. and River John, Nova Scotia. In demand as a visiting author, workshop leader and keynote speaker, she is currently working on an adult novel. She holds a B.A. from St. Thomas, an M.A. from Acadia University and honorary doctorates from both St. Mary's and Acadia for her contribution to Canadian literature and education. She has two grown children."

Reviews

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joyful illustrations and sensory language ❄️

[Bonnie Ferrante · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who lives were snow covers the ground six months of the year, I was deeply impressed by Sherry Features understanding and descriptions of all the different types of snow. The protagonist, a young blonde haired blue-eyed boy, is trying to explain snow to his dark skinned friend, who lives in a place with no winter. As you read the author's description, you can hear, see, and even taste the snow. She manages to portray detailed images through the use of poetry. Her words are to be savored. If you live in the north you understand the difference between slow feather shapes and splinters sharp snow. You've heard the rubbery squeak of snow beneath your feet. I've never heard such a perfect description of such a rich season.

Janet Wilson's illustrations complement the words beautifully. Whether it is a child catching snowflakes on his tongue are a group of children engaged in a snowball fight, sensations seep into the reader page to page. This is a book that is to be read slowly, enjoying the sounds, examining the shapes of the words, and exploring the pictures.
At the end of the book, Fitch discusses the roots of this book. She tells us that "every book, like every person and every snowflake, is different too." This book is for UNICEF and features activities at the end to celebrate your senses.

I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy snow and for those who have never experienced it.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a great mentor text to use for creative writing. In this book, the author answers her pen pal's question of "What is snow" in the format of a letter. The letter unfolds as a poem as the two pals exchange ideas. The author also uses very creative text placement. This book would be a great addition to a science unit on weather because it follows the formation of a snowflake through different states of matter. Fitch's book could accompany a poetry or letter writing unit as well.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about friends who play in the snow together. There is a deeper message that talks about how each person, or in this case snowflakes, are unique. And, there are not two people or snowflakes that are alike. I placed this book in the text-to world bookshelf because a teacher can use this book to do a lesson on the differences and similarities of the students in the classroom, or with children from different cultures. This book can also be used for a science lesson to learn about snow and prompt discussion about types of precipitation.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful diversity of characters and diversity of poems/poetic structures. The poetry is quite clever and may be lost on young children, although the active illustrations may make up for that.