Snowy race

A young child is excited after she awakens on a snowy morning: today she gets to ride in the snowplow with her dad. Short, rhyming phrases relate the tale of a father and daughter who must plow their way to an exciting destination. Though the snow is falling fast, the two have an appointment and they don't want to be late. Frosty crystals chase and spin. / Snowplow shifts and tunnels in. / Beating, pounding. / Pushing, mounding. Charming illustrations created with paper and ink reveal a cheerful man and child as they get ready to leave their cozy home and venture out into the cold, windy day. The bright, red truck the father drives resembles the toy the girl holds as she gazes out her window at the white landscape, while a collection of items in her bedroom hints at the gift she receives after her thrilling ride. The endpapers show the plow's journey from the countryside through town as it clears snow from the roadways. A warm story for a frigid day.--Maryann Owen Copyright 2020 Booklist

PreS-Gr 1--A young girl wakes up in her bedroom full of eager anticipation because today, "She's on her way." Behind her bed, viewers can see a wall calendar where dates have been crossed out and today is circled in red. The child gets dressed as snowflakes fall outside her window and soon she and her dad march into the snowstorm and climb aboard a huge snowplow. It's still dark outside and with headlights on, they plow through a small town that has been blanketed in snow. The text continues to give clues that they are on some sort of mission or race and the tension mounts with each page. At last they reach their destination--the train station! Waiting there is a woman with a suitcase and the two embrace one another. The book concludes with them back in their home all snug and safe. VERDICT Rhyming, minimal text coupled with fetching illustrations by Davenier expertly convey the exhilarating drama of entering into a snowstorm as well as the comfy feelings of being in a warm house while the weather is frightful. The fact that the text never explains who the guest is will allow for a nice discussion.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

On a wintry day, a child bursts out of bed anticipating a special persons arrival: Todays the day! Shes on her way. As the snow begins to accumulate, a rhyming text sets the pace for an adventure. On left-hand pages, text in italics mimics the natural world (Whirl of snow); text on the right-hand pages respond with the human side of the story (Off we go). The child and an adult head off in what appears to be their own snowplow. A double-page-spread reveal of this giant vehicle interrupts the established back-and-forth rhythm with the childs singular joy: I finally get to help! The composition of the art and the increasing textual energy create urgency and tension as the snowplow battles the elements from page to page. Frosty crystals chase and spin. / Snowplow shifts and tunnels in. Bright reds, greens, yellows, and blues from the snowplow, lights, and clothing create sharp contrasts with the white, snowy scenes. At last the pair reaches its destinationthe train stationwith a giant hug for the woman disembarking from the train. The book closes with a scene of the three people back at home, cozying up together on the couch. The text avoids labeling who the characters are to one another, leaving room for many families to find themselves in the story. Julie Roach March/April 2020 p.67(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A young child rides along in the snowplow to complete a very special errand.Chronicling the breathless moment when a child will "finally get to help!" and be included in the adult world of work, a child protagonist (with car seat!) loads into Dad's oversized plow truck to zoom off through a snowstorm. Conveyed in expressive couplets, the well-paced rhymes admirably evoke a sense of urgency about their trip and vividly paint a scene of the worsening wintry weather: "Frosty crystals chase and spin. / Snowplow shifts and tunnels in." When the pair finally reaches their destination, readers see what made this particular journey so importantit's Mom waiting for them at the train station! Swift, impressionistic sketches filled with soft pastel-hued washes create pastoral snowy scenes that contrast with the warmer, more saturated domestic scenes and with the thick-lined, cherry-red snowplow. Long, layered smears of white create a satisfying illusion of a blizzard, and Davenier utilizes various interesting perspectives, such as the view into the snowy woods from behind the windshield. Gender is handled refreshingly here, with Dad capably handling child care and chores, and while the flap copy refers to the child as female, the long-haired child appears in neutral primary colors, and bedroom decor includes trucks and elephants, with nary a pink toy in sight. All three family members have pale skin, Dad with brown hair and Mom and child with straight, black hair.A winning winter race. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A young child is excited after she awakens on a snowy morning: today she gets to ride in the snowplow with her dad. Short, rhyming phrases relate the tale of a father and daughter who must plow their way to an exciting destination. Though the snow is falling fast, the two have an appointment and they don't want to be late. "Frosty crystals chase and spin. / Snowplow shifts and tunnels in. / Beating, pounding. / Pushing, mounding." Charming illustrations created with paper and ink reveal a cheerful man and child as they get ready to leave their cozy home and venture out into the cold, windy day. The bright, red truck the father drives resembles the toy the girl holds as she gazes out her window at the white landscape, while a collection of items in her bedroom hints at the gift she receives after her thrilling ride. The endpapers show the plow's journey from the countryside through town as it clears snow from the roadways. A warm story for a frigid day. Preschool-Grade 1. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

PreS-Gr 1—A young girl wakes up in her bedroom full of eager anticipation because today, "She's on her way." Behind her bed, viewers can see a wall calendar where dates have been crossed out and today is circled in red. The child gets dressed as snowflakes fall outside her window and soon she and her dad march into the snowstorm and climb aboard a huge snowplow. It's still dark outside and with headlights on, they plow through a small town that has been blanketed in snow. The text continues to give clues that they are on some sort of mission or race and the tension mounts with each page. At last they reach their destination—the train station! Waiting there is a woman with a suitcase and the two embrace one another. The book concludes with them back in their home all snug and safe. VERDICT Rhyming, minimal text coupled with fetching illustrations by Davenier expertly convey the exhilarating drama of entering into a snowstorm as well as the comfy feelings of being in a warm house while the weather is frightful. The fact that the text never explains who the guest is will allow for a nice discussion.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI