First Snow

by Nancy Viau, Talitha Shipman (Illustrator)

2019 Independent Publisher Book Award—Silver, Children's Picture Books (7 & Under)

A celebration of the first snowfall of the season.

Snowflakes falling! What a treat! Friends gather outside to celebrate the first snowfall of the season with snowball fights, sledding, building igloos, drinking hot chocolate, and making the most of a windy, wintry day. With rhyming text and cheerful illustrations, this is a charming celebration of the winter season.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, Nature, Friendship, Cultural

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2018

About the author

Nancy Viau is the author of the picture books PRUETT AND SOO, TODAY IS A BEACH DAY!, FIRST SNOW, STORM SONG, CITY STREET BEAT, and LOOK WHAT I CAN DO! Her middle-grade novels include BEAUTY AND BERNICE, JUST ONE THING!, SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD (updated & reissued in 2019) and SOMETHING IS BUGGING SAMANTHA HANSEN. She is the founder of the KidLit Authors Club, a group of 22 children’s book authors who sign and present at bookstores, libraries, festivals, schools, and conferences. In her interactive, energetic story hours, assembly programs, and workshops, Viau gets young readers writing on the spot. She’s a Jersey girl with ties to the seashore and finds inspiration in nature and travel. www.nancyviau.com.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple rhyming book about the joys of snow

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children do all sorts of things---build a snowman, throw snowballs, sled---in the first snow of the year. It's a perfect read for a snow introduction, with simple rhyming vocabulary.

[Akoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

@Kidlitexchange #partner - I received a copy of this book from the Kidlitexchange network in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Released 9/1/18

It’s first snow day. How do you spend it?

Personally I don’t have the answer to that but this book surely does.

The short sentences leave room for the gorgeous illustrations to draw you in. You can lose yourself in the pictures for an extended amount of time without realizing it. They are bright and vivid. By the time you close the book you will be craving a cup of hot cocoa (even if it’s 75 degrees Fahrenheit outside).
I imagine first snow days rival first official summer days with the anticipation and excitement they bring? (don’t answer that.)
Anyways, December is about a month-ish away so plan to add this gorgeous book to your bedtime to-be-read pile.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is First Snow, written by Nancy Viau and illustrated by Talitha Shipman, a lovely celebration of wintertime fun.

The first snow of the year has come, and covered a quiet neighborhood in a white, crisp blanket of the stuff. A little boy helps his younger sister put on her cold weather gear and mittens, then the two and their exuberant pup head outside to meet up with friends. As the snowflakes continue to flurry down, the children engage in all manner of classic snow-day activities: snow angels, snowball fights, sledding, and so on. The group plays merrily until the sun begins to set, then the siblings and their dog head back inside for hot cocoa and bedtime, but not before enjoying the unique, stunning calm of a moonlit snowy night.

Simple and sweet. Playful rhymes, adorable illustrations, and overall sense of joy and wonder combine to perfectly capture the thrill of a snow day through the eyes of children. From there, small details – such as the diverse cast, the care the older brother shows for his little sister, and the seamless transition from daytime snow activities to the unearthly wonder of a snow-covered world at night – make the book a treat from cover to cover. The length is great, and JJ loved it. A perfect story to get kids excited for winter, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone gets a little giddy when the first snow arrives. A little boy and girl are no different. What will they wear when the first snow arrives?

“Puffy Jackets. Scarves in place. Extra mittens, just in case. Clunky boots and funky hats.”

What fun these youngsters will have when the neighbors come to play. All together they build a snowman and dress him up smart. These kids get rosy cheeked from the brisk air. They race their sleds and screech and laugh. Snowballs fill the air, and everyone runs and plays with a pup in tow. When its time to go inside where it’s warm and toasty what do you think they’ll have to warm them up?

Author Nancy Viau along with illustrations by Talitha Shipman has created a fun first read for the winter season. Simple sentences that rhyme and pages filled with colorful images help tell the story so beginner readers can learn to recognize words. This quick read is great for naptime, bedtime or just a fun reading time. Caregivers can read this aloud to young listeners and get them engaged in what they like to do when it snows.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always looked forward to that first snowfall of the year. We’d bundle up our kids, get out the sleds, and go outside for some fun in the snow. A snowman in the front yard was a requirement as well. Nancy Viau takes all the joy of that first snowfall for kids and puts it into this sweet story for the earliest readers.

With rhyming prose and limited words, the true beauty of the story is in the illustrations. They are soft, sweet, adorable, and show the joy children feel when playing in the snow. The beagle puppy is just the cutest. The illustrator also uses children from various races showing that all children can play together. Once the playtime in the snow is over, the best part is cookies and hot cocoa. Again, the rhyming text is simple yet so creative.

Having this book in your home library to take out and celebrate the first snowfall of each year can be a fun tradition. Kids will love reminiscing about their days in the snow with each reread. Get your youngest readers excited about the first big snowfall with this sweet book.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Snow by Nancy Viau captures the joy of going out to play in the snow. Two children, a brother and sister, run to their window one morning to find the world outside has turned white. Soon they are bundled up in puffy jackets, scarves, mittens, clunky boots, and funky hats. They rush outside to join their friends. Together they make a snowman, ride sleds, have a snowball fight and more. At the end of the day they head home where warm cocoa and cozy pajamas wait.

Beautiful illustrations by Talitha Shipman show children laughing and having a great time. It’s the perfect kind of book for parents to read with their children when the weather outside is cold and wintry. In addition to children playing, the scenes include birds eating seeds from a feeder, snowflakes falling, housetops covered in white with smoking chimneys, and a pet dog that plays along. It’s all great fun.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

FIRST SNOW is a simple, rhyming story about the childhood joy of a snow day. Two siblings race to the window and confirm the snowfall. Then it's jackets, mittens, friends, and fun. The weary pair returns home, ending the day staring out the window again—hoping for more snow overnight.

This book perfectly captures the magic of a snow day full of winter fun. Of note: the main characters are Black children with diverse friends, which bucks the trend of the majority of wintry books picturing white children as main characters. This is a welcome addition to our stack of winter books!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a colorful book in verse about the excitement of the first snowstorm of the year. Few words are needed to tell this story but the verse is fun to read. Easy to read and remember for a 4-8 year old. Great imagery for a child who experiences snow for the first time or who has never seen or taken a first cold breath of winter air, listened to the quiet of falling snow, or crunched across the snow to build a snowman or roll a snowball.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween is over and now we can look to the sky and hope for snow. The fluffy white stuff is what kid's winter dreams are made of and this beautifully illustrated story celebrates the joy of the first snow. I love the sing song text and the illustrations capture all the most captivating parts of winter and playing outside in the snow. I cannot wait to share this in my classes and create wonderful art activities around this book!

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two siblings and their neighborhood friends enjoy a perfect day outside in the snow complete with snowman making, igloo building, sledding and snowballs. The children’s joy over the first snowfall is perfectly captured in the cheerful, rhyming text. Lushly colored, digital illustrations are reminiscent of watercolor and oil pastels and reflect the motion of children and snowflakes on each full-page spread. Reviewer 2

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange #partner – all opinions are my own.

Sparse rhyming text and fun illustrations show children (along with their cute dog!) going on an outdoor adventure with friends on the first snowy day of the season. They have fun sledding, making snow angels, and building a snowman. A cozy ending includes hot cocoa at home! A great choice for young children who live in snowy areas AND those who don’t!

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story that captures all the magic of a first snowy day in the winter. There’s rhyming, but not in a forced and annoying way. The illustrations are really adorable. I love that the brother and sister are shown as having a good time together because a lot of media still falls into the trap of boys vs girls. Diverse characters in the illustrations.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming text shows 2 siblings going outside to play with friends on the first snow of the season. Note that this is significant snow. They sled, make a snowman, build an igloo, make snow angels, and have a snowball fight. Then, they come in and have a snack and go to bed.

No parents/adults appear anywhere.

Like the ethnic mix of the kiddos.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

So cute! This is the 'StoryWalk' for the month of Dec. in OKC... where we're lucky to get any snow at all and usually later. But still, it's a fun book to read to the littles. Our favorite spread is the big brother & little sister at "peaceful twilight" snuggly on the couch with a book, dog at their feet. Aww....

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick-paced, rhyming text and the playful illustrations that depict a brother and sister enjoying a day in the snow. I currently live in the desert so I often miss the joy of playing in the snow with little ones and this story brought back fun memories.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyme and gentle rhythm relate the adventures of some neighborhood children on a snowy day. Hats off to illustrator Talitha Shipman for showing children of different races playing together. I’ll be using this in winter storytimes.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is a wonderful graduation from board books. It's simple, has a nice rhyming cadence, and the illustrations and theme are something the child will relate to.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and fun. Rhymes. Recommended for ages 2-5.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet book about neighborhood kids playing in the first snow of the season together. It felt a little cliche, but this is as good if not better than the others I've seen on the topic, I suppose.

[ErinTheLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

perfect for toddler or preschool storytime. fine also for a read-aloud at home. Diverse kids. Very short sentences ("Cozy igloo. Wintry bed. Time's a wasting. Get the sled!") that rhyme.

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, snappy lines tell the story of the first day (morning to night) of snow in seemingly effortless rhyme. The colorful illustrations will delight young audiences.

[Elizabeth Moreau Nicolai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly fun storytime book! Love the diverse illustrations, bright pictures, simple clear rhyming text. Read at both baby and toddler storytimes.

[Erin Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun snowy day activities -- colorful illustrations.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to have a great new toddler friendly choice to read in wintertime. This will become a storytime staple!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple rhyming book. Cute illustrations. Great for winter storytimes.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple rhyming text with illustrations that are meant to be talked about with little ones. Everything from catching snowflakes to snow angels to enjoying hot chocolate are pictured.

[Susan Waltman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful!! It reminds me of the delight of being a kid and having a snow day off from school.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple rhyming text paired with fun illustrations made me feel like it was a snow day.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read rhyming text for younger readers.
Celebrates the joy and fun when the snow first falls each winter.
Colorful illustrations draw the reader in.