The First Snow [Paperback]

David Christiana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001 | Age Level: 4 and up

Long ago, when Mother Nature was a child, she liked only warm weather. But when winter wrapped her in a blanket of soft crystals that fell from the sky, she finally awoke to the beauty of The First Snow.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"This imaginative tale ponders what Mother Nature was like as a girl," wrote PW. "Ethereal, slightly fey illustrations evoke a fully realized fanciful world." Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3. Christiana takes readers back to a time when the world was new and Mother Nature a young child. She loves Summer with her warm, green breezes and is quite upset when she finds her packing to give Winter his turn. The girl finds many ways to turn Winter and the blustery Wind away, but Winter has a sage counselor in the great polar bear, Aunt Arctica, who finally suggests that he try a gentle approach to win the child's acceptance. After a few failures, he creates a soft, white blanket to warm her, and Mother Nature discovers that she likes Winter and his first snow. Unfortunately, the denouement is a bit of an anticlimax, and the final joke, Mother Nature throwing the first snowball at Winter, will be lost with the dustcover, as it appears on the back. The pencil, watercolor, and gouache artwork, however, is glorious. With an amazing array of page layouts, Christiana's work conveys a sense of continuous motion. Leaves blow in and out of view, and Wind bursts through frames. Summer's scenes are brightly lit with verdant greens and warm golden tones, while Winter's realm is portrayed in cool blues that will make readers shiver along with Mother Nature. All in all, a visual treat.?Jeanne Clancy Watkins, Upper Merion Township Library, King of Prussia, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439244013
• ISBN-13: 978-0439244015
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,235,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Mother Nature Was a Little Girl, November 29, 2001

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Snow (Paperback)

This is a charming story book in every sense. The illustrations are colorful and beautifully executed, giving a magical feeling to the tale of young Mother Nature's first experience with young Winter. Young Winter can't understand why little Mother Nature won't accept him so he seeks the friendly advice of a huge polar bear named Aunt Artica.
You'll smile at the tactics Mother Nature uses to fend off this perplexing cold weather she faces. The text is lyrical and evocative such as when Summer tells the little girl it is time for her to be leaving and "she packed her trunk full of warm and green breezes." This is a fun one to read to children during the November drearies, perhaps over fresh baked gingerbread.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Snow, July 28, 2000

By 

Martha Evans Osborne (Hillsboro, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Snow (Hardcover)

This modern tale of the first Fall and the first Winter/snow reads like an ages-old folk tale than a recently written story. Herein lies it's charm.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a delightful story, March 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The First Snow (Hardcover)

On a average I buy 10 children books a month and this book has so far been my best childrens book buy this year! The illustrations are beautiful and the story is funny to kids of all ages."The First Snow" has a wonderful lesson in it that even us big kids need to be reminded of.