Customer Reviews

Mama, Will It Snow Tonight?

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The mother fox lovingly looked down at her kit when he asked, "Mama, will it snow?" A bunny asked the same thing of his Mama as did a little girl. "No. No. No snow tonight," they answered. The season was changing and the colorful leaves began to leave their branches and fall to the ground and a chill began to set in. It's an exciting time when critters and little girls wait for the first snow, especially when weather signs point to the change.

"Mama, will it snow?
Mama, will it snow?
Mama, will it snow tonight?
The wind is brrrr.
The bushes bare.
The berries picked."

This was a beautiful, graceful book that captures the essence of the change of season from autumn to winter. The simple repetitive dialogue meshes perfectly with the watercolors. The artwork captures those subtle signs that snow will arrive soon, something that can be discussed with the young child. For example, "That night they all looked up at the hazy-lazy, fuzzy moon." On the following page you can see small snowflakes swirling in the moonlight. If you have a little one who loves to play outside and is awaiting the first arrival of snow, you'll love this gentle read!

The first time I read this book, I felt it to be somewhat repetitious. However, as I took a second, third and forth look, I began to understand the need for the "Mama, will it snow tonight?" line. This small book captures a lot in the feeling for the season than it does in eloquent text. Actually, this is pleasingly refreshing for an adult reader.

I could see how a child would enjoy reading this book over and over. The illustration is very much integral to the text. I think that the author is trying to capture feeling more than thought in this gentle publication. Indeed, it always is an exciting time when fall turns to winter and we await the first snow. I wonder if this author could write a similar text (with the same illustrator, of course) on the excitement in waiting for the first flowers to bloom at the dawn of spring. I would like to read a little book like that! Sometimes, I think, capturing a feeling in a book is more powerful than telling a story. This book does that very nicely.