I can't even tell you how many times I have read this book to my children over the last four or five years, especially during the winter months. It is cute and catchy with the right amount of repetitiveness, just like the familiar song that it emulates.
First of all, how serendipitous is it that the word "happy" from the original rendition of the song is replaced with "snowy" here, a word synonymous with "happy" for most every child?! This book gives words and pictures to that childlike joy and celebration as a friendly assortment of North American animals glide, sled, build and clap together in the winter weather. All the while you are reading the words of this book (or singing them - it's way more fun), your child gets to partake in the clapping and the other repetitive words as they commit them to memory after just a few readings...and you will undoubtedly have more than just a few readings.
Besides this being a book that your children will gravitate to solely based on familiarity, it also maintains a pleasantly silly storyline with thoughtfully illustrated pages. The crew of furry, tusked, horned and feathered start off playing in the snow, only to soon find themselves in a bit of a pickle. But no worry, help comes quickly to the scene, and the animals can finish the day with a meal and a book, a snuggle and a dream, rounding out their idyllic wintery day together. The illustrations work in tandem with the storyline by presenting a plethora of creatures, mishaps and side-stories to be noticed by your child, soliciting giggles, discoveries, and maybe even a bunny-trail of learning.
Though we have always owned the board book version of this book, I have seen paperback and hardcover options available as well, so you can choose what works best for your family. But if you have a youngster and live where it snows, this is a must-read...er, sing. "Hoo-ray!"
If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! by Kim Norman
Published in 2013
Comments