Snow Doves

by Nancy Hartry, Nancy Hartry

Sami has just arrived in a new country. The snow piled up outside his window is a mysterious and, frankly, cold surprise! Joy, his new neighbor, does not speak his language, but that does not stop them from communicating as Joy helps Sami overcome his fears. The two new friends get bundled up against the cold, and Sami discovers the magic of playing outside on a snowy day.

As the sun begins to set on a near-perfect day, Sami and Joy make angels in the snow that transform into doves and fly away, a magical ending to a wordless story of friendship and peace.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Cultural, Plays, Canada, Immigration

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2020

About the author

Nancy Hartry is the author of two picture books, Hold On, McGinty! and Jocelyn and the Ballerina. Nancy finds inspiration for her stories in the antics of her children and her larger family. Watching Jimmy grew from her short story "Thunderbird Swing," which appeared in Secrets, published by Tundra Books. Watching Jimmy won the Canadian Library Association's Book of the Year for Children Award and was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, and the Ontario Library Association's Golden Oak Award. When Nancy is not writing stories, she works as a lawyer. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snow Doves by Nancy Hartry is a gorgeous, little picture book set in the winter time.

This book has no words in it, which was quite unique! The story is told through pictures, which could easily be a great way to have the reader make up the story as they go. The characters are very expressive, which makes the story fun without the words. This unique premise impressed me, since I haven't seen many books without words. Then, you get to the end of the book and figure out why there is no words... the two lead characters don't speak the same language. But remember, fun is fluent in all languages! language boundaries doesn't limit the fun.

Overall, this book is super cute and a great little read! I think younger readers won't understand the premise and it will go over their heads, but older (six and up) will be able to appreciate it.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Story Press for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute wordless story about a a boy who is new to the neighbor and the country and afraid of the new challenges in front of him. A girl will help him to overcome his fears, even they do not seem to speak the same language. Friendship is the best of the forts.

I received this book from Second Story Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Nancy Hartry has written a wordless picture book — yes, an oxymoron — of young Sami, a newly arrived immigrant, and his neighbor, who lives up to her name of Joy. Although Sami speaks no English, young Joy helps him to feel at home and make his very first “snow dove” (what I call “snow angels”). The story is sweet, but it’s Gabrielle Grimard’s soft illustrations that really make the book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Second Story Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a wordless picture book telling the story about a child who has just moved to a new house and feels cold, fed up and unsure about the new place and new surroundings until another comes to the house and encourages him to go outdoors to play in the snow.
The two children become fast friends and have so much fun and adventure playing out in the snow together.

This is a beautiful picture book and so easy to understand what is happening through the book. This book is a fantastic book to encourage children to talk about what is happening in the story and would also be a great book for children moving house to share with their parent or carer to help outline how they feel about the move, their worries, fears etc.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally from here: https://ashlynmadani.wixsite.com/them...

At first, I thought there was something wrong with my digital copy of the book. There were no words on any of the pages! Then, I got to the end and saw that this was a wordless story, and I was like, "Okay, this makes more sense." Snow Doves is about two children: Joy and Sami. Sami just moved to the country, and Joy shows up at his window to have him play outside in the snow. The two cannot communicate through words because they speak different languages; however, that does not stop them from becoming friends.

So, you might be wondering what a book is like if it has no words. Well, it is a little strange. However, it is actually nice. I think this is great because it leaves the imagination open to the readers. The first time I read this book, I kind of skimmed over it, but after I read it a few more times, I really saw a lot of detail in the illustrations. I like that I can narrate this to my child, and not have to worry about reading the correct words or trying to memorize the text. Or, I can just point to different objects on the pages with him and tell him what they are. Would I recommend this book? Yes. I think it's nice to just have a wordless book that you can use your imagination while reading. Snow Doves would be a great book for children ages 0 to 9. I think older kids would enjoy this because you can have them narrate the story to you.

I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful little book celebrating overcoming fears and trusting and leaning on friends to help us show courage and bravery! Also enjoying new experiences, the snow, winter,bundling up, asking for and receiving help from our little friends and encouraging one another..

Two little friends Sami and Joy do not speak the same language but that doesn't stop them from commincating! Joy shows Sami how to overcome his fears of the cold and playing outside. Joy helps Sami get bundled up to go outside into the magical winter wonderland of snow and cold!! Sami becomes braver and braver with his little friend, Joy by his side! He discovers playing in the snow is magical and he enjoys a perfect day of new experiences with Joy buiding a friendship and developing trust in each other, playfully building a snowman and tossing snowballs to each other! The two little ones discover a sled, take a risk and take an amazing journey flying on the sled down the hill! At the end of a beautiful day the children make snow angels and watch in amazement as the angels magically turn into doves and fly away! A celebration of friendship and peace!
The art work in the book should appeal to little ones and give lots of ideas and experiences to encourage new and descriptive vocabulary! Lovely!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

One basic blunder us humble reviewers can sometimes do it assume the worst, and think we've got a book that has come to us digitally without text. I went all through this before hitting the back cover blurb saying it was wordless all along. So looking at it a bit more carefully, a bit less greedily, I finally picked up the story. The boy is very wary of the snowy outdoors that his family has just moved to, full as it is of cold, er, snow, and possibly monsters. But the girl next door is much more in tune with all of that, and persuades him to try on for size snowball fights, tobogganing, and – key to this – making snow angels, which here are something else even more magical. The artwork is wonderful, embracing the twee and defeating it in giving us two greetings-card-ready children at play. The plot is pitched perfectly for early readers, showing the benefits of bravery, of exploring the outside world, and of the cooperation between two children who instantly become friends. And with these publishers known to me for giving the world books concerning First Nations narratives and experiences, I dare say there's more than a hint of the city boy learning from the culture of the First Nation, as the real North American spirit is brought to life in the newcomer, and beyond. This will, despite the cold aspect, be warmly received – a strong four stars.

[Re • · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a glorious delight! There are no words just body language and stunning visuals that blew me away! I think this will be a perfect edition for those who cannot read yet to truly enjoy and feel the feelings it evokes!

Thank you so much to second story press for this delightful book!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet picture book about two kids making friends over a snowy day, when neither can speak the others language, plus the first child has never known or been in snow before.

Sami is given clothes to go out in the snow in with Joy. They do the things that kids have been doing forever in the snow, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, admiring the beauty of the world around them.

A very sweet, wordless story.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Lara Maynard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would be interested to revisit this book with a small child - or observe children interact with it on their own. And those situations would be the real measure of its success. Meanwhile, I am intrigued by the concept of this as a wordless picture book, though not yet completely convinced that it works.

--

I read an advance review digital copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley and this review is voluntary.

[Marte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful picture book about the friendship of two children who don't speak the same language! I love the concept, and it makes me remember being a child when the language barrier wasn't that big because you could always communicate another way! This is a wonderful book where you can discuss with the child you are reading it to what each spread means and what they might be saying to each other, and it would also be perfect to use in the classroom! Really makes you reflect a lot!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another ARC from Net Galley. It is a story of friendship and magic.

It was a very nice story with pictures and no words. About Sami and his family just moved to the United States and he has never seen snow. His new neighbor Joy comes over to play with him. Because of the language barrier they do not talk to each other.

They make magical snow doves and the doves fly away. It is a great book, and I plan to buy it for my grandchildren when it is published.

The drawings are wonderful and I will look for other books by these authors.

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute story. I enjoyed watching the progression of expressions on the new child's face, as he went from being afraid and skeptical about the snow to loving it. The child who helped him to play in the snow was very kind and imaginative, and did well at drawing the newcomer out of his shell. The wordless book was an effective way to convey the idea that there was a language barrier.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

[Soumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating - 3.5.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordless Book
I received an electronic ARC from Second Story Press through NetGalley.
When the young boy overcomes his fears, he meets a new friend and has amazing adventures in the snow. The new friend is gentle and welcoming and wants their new neighbor to see the beauty of the winter day. Together, they experience many ways to have fun in the snow.
Soft focused illustrations accent the joy. Readers can spot the snow doves on several pages.
Tender book about reaching out and welcoming others as well as conquering fears of the unknown.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Picture-Only Story About New Friends

I read and review a number of children's picture books, but I've never seen one that didn't have words! This is my first one. I thought the illustrations were well done, clearly showing the emotions of the children and the beauty of the snow-filled day. I'm such a word person, though, I found myself wondering how a parent would share this book with a child. Is reading time child-directed, where the parent asks the child what they see in the illustrations? Does the parent direct the child to note particular things on the pages? A young boy is new in the area, and a young neighbor girl comes over to invite him to play out in the snow. He doesn't want to go, afraid of the chill. They take a long and amusing time to figure out what he should wear when they go out. Then they spend the day outside building a snowman, tobogganing, and feeding some birds. In a two-page spread that I didn't fully understand until I read the back cover, they make snow angels that then turn into doves and fly away. The story is about making friends and perhaps even facing your fears. I have to say, though, I'm enough of a word nerd, that I wish there were some words! But the story was adequately told just in pictures.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Andréa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Vonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wordless book about Sami, who is an immigrant. His new neighbor, Joy, encourages him to experience snow for the first time. You see him go from an uncertain newcomer to a friend enjoying frolicking in the snow.

With no text, the only critique is on the illustrations and the message they send. The illustrations are simple. The story of welcoming a newcomer, inclusion, and friendship are wonderful topics to ponder in our current cultural times. I don’t really understand why, after the kids made the snow angels, they showed doves lifting into the sky. Perhaps it was to represent the purity of childlike friendship or perhaps the author was trying to portray it as a spiritual experience. I prefer the former conclusion.

I received the advanced ARC copy from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Melanie McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

With beautiful illustrations a child is hesitant to go outside and play in the snow. Being a wordless picture book, I found that I absolutely related to the images of finding winter wear and playing outside. But the fact that Sami was a new arrival to a snowy country was missed on me -- however, I feel that is because I assumed (without reading the blurb first) that it was just a tale about two kids going outside to play. I remember when our good friend's wife came over from the Phillipines with their daughters and she kept commenting on the cold fall weather -- and was waiting for the multicultural center to give them a session on winter clothing -- so I went through all of ours and brought her clothing not even realizing this was something she had to "wait" to learn about. So this book is important - and even so without the words :)

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Please read the back of this book before reading it to your child. My granddaughter and I shared this book, I say shared because it is a wordless story. I explained to her before we started that the two friends do not speak the same language, so they do not understand what each other says, but they can get their message across with their actions. We then went through the story and she made it up as we went along. I was astonished with her ideas and details. I am going to buy this one to have around as we can make up stories and change them when we feel like it. The illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard are wonderful. They show the delight and emotions shared by these two children. I definitely recommend this one. The publisher gifted me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and 2nd Story Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's book. I adore children's books, but I didn't quite understand this one. The graphics are beautiful!! But there are no words, I personally didn't think that worked in this case. Maybe there should have been a forward instead of at the end. How could a child know that there was a language barrier if there are no words? Would a child even understand a language barrier? Yes, the child can make up their own story which is great but this didn't seem to be the intention. 3 stars for book but 5 stars for graphic s!!

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes words are not needed when it comes to fear and friendship. This wordless book expresses the fear of Sami who has arrived in a new country. He is scared and unsure. Joy his next door neighbor sees her new neighbor and invites to play in the snow. They can't communicate with each other with words but with a smile from Joy, she shares how fun playing in the snow can be.

The illustration show the faces of fear, friendship, encouragement, laughter, and acceptance. A wonderful book to share with the children in your life.

A Special Thank you to Second Story Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Anita Ojeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful no-word picture book chronicles the story of Sami, a recent arrival to a country with snow, and the neighbor girl who befriends him. She invites him out to play in the snow and makes sure he has the clothing to enjoy the experience the fun of snowmen, sledding, and snow angels.

Parents will find it the perfect springboard for discussing feelings of fear, new experiences, and friendships. Teachers will find it a valuable tool for creative writing (students could add text to the pictures to describe what's happening or how the characters feel).

I couldn't find it on Amazon, and I hope it shows up soon so I can pre-order it.

[Shari Heinze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story line, with how a child can go above and beyond just simple friendship. The story is unwritten but the meaning in the pictures is clear. Parents can prompt children to help tell the story as they go. The lesson is simple but many during this time need to remember it. How scared someone could be to come to a new area or even a new time in the world, looking at the many changes we need to do.
the artwork is sweet and perfectly fitting the story line. Artist and author worked well together.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book may be wordless, but it certainly isn’t silent! The gra are phenomenal. Didn’t need words to get the sentiment behind each page. It is so detailed that I nearly came to tears at the kindness shown and laughed at the kids’ playfulness. This book works well to showcase friendship. Parents will need to allow time to point out certain elements, which will lead to further discussion. A must read for parents, librarians, and anyone who have interactions with children.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure if this book is supposed to be wordless, or if there is a problem with my digital galley. I hope it stays wordless. The illustrations are stunning and pull you into the story. I would not have known the two kids didn’t speak the same language if it had not said so on the back. But it didn’t matter. This story was about the enduring love of childhood, and how play crosses all boundaries.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a unique book in that the story was told entirely through pictures. Sami and his neighbor Joy do not speak the same language, but they build a friendship as Joy helps Sami overcome his fears of the snow. The story is completely understandable as long as you have read the brief synopsis that accompanies the book. I personally loved that there were no words- I felt it was a significant representation of the two kids who couldn't verbally communicate but could still become friends.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and advanced copy of, Snow Doves, by Nancy Hartry, Gabrielle Grimard. This was a picture book with no words, a first for me. I loved the pictures, and the colors, Sami who is in a new country and his neighbor Joy, who do not speak the same language. So Joy does great improvisations on what she want to tell Sami. Playing outside in the snow, building snowman, interacting in Joys house. This is a great story.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love wordless picture books! They really help in aiding children's language development while being so engaging! The illustrations are adorable! Tow little neighbors learn to play together even thought they do not speak the same language. Lovely story!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story. The young characters don't speak the same language, but they manage to communicate. The established neighbor welcomes the new neighbor and helps him overcome his reservations about the snow and they have a great time. This is a wordless picture book and that makes sense for the story since they speak different languages and communicate by playing.