The Snow Child (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) [Mass Market Paperback]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Julia Zanes (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2000 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Easy-to-Read, Puffin

There once lived an old man and an old woman who wanted a child, so they made a little girl out of snow. When the old woman kissed her, she came to life! The old couple was very happy until the warm weather came, and the snow child had to go. But when the snow returned, it brought with it a wonderful surprise.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Ziefert has retold a pleasant Russian folktale in simple language and short sentences suitable for beginning readers. An old couple who "wanted a little boy or a little girl very much" build one out of snow. When the old lady kisses the snow child, she comes to life, bringing joy to all around her. However, when spring comes, the snow child is forced to go where it is cold. The sad couple feel they will never be happy again, until winter arrives once more and the youngster returns. The book is illustrated with exquisite collages-autumnal browns and oranges give way to wintry whites and blues-with visual clues that make the entire reading experience a pleasurable one. An appealing addition to easy-reader shelves.-Anne Knicker-bocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-2. Drawing elements from many traditional stories, Ziefert weaves together a folktale written and designed for beginning readers. As in the "Gingerbread Boy," an older couple longing for children creates a magical child, this time from snow instead of dough. All winter, the couple loves their snow child, but when the warm weather comes, she disappears. The couple mourns her loss but rejoices again when the magical girl returns with the next winter. Told with simple vocabulary and sentences even the earliest readers can puzzle out, the story is nicely complimented by Julia Zanes' folksy watercolor collages, which reinforce rather than overwhelm the text. A lovely offering from Puffin's Easy-to-Read series. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141305770
• ISBN-13: 978-0141305776
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Early Reader > Puffin Easy-to-Read
  • #19 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Anthologies
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories > Anthologies

More About the Author

Harriet Ziefert was born in New Jersey. She grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University. "About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year. Ziefert's picture book A New Coat for Anna is about a girl in a bombed-out European city during the months just after World War II. Anna has outgrown her old coat, and her mother trades her few surviving treasures--a watch, a lamp, a necklace, and a porcelain teapot--in order to obtain wool and have it spun, woven, and finally sewn into a fine red coat for Anna. A Horn Book Magazine reviewer stated, "the simple text, based on a true story, carries the narrative along effectively." The book, which was illustrated by Anita Lobel, was chosen as one of ten books to be read aloud by former First Lady Barbara Bush as part of a program promoting reading. Ziefert was invited to the White House for the occasion. The reason Ziefert began writing easy-to-read books was that she felt "they were getting too hard for kids to read in the first grade." She says that she wrote easy-to-read books with seventy-five or fewer words, even ones with fifty or fewer words, "to see how much of a story" she could produce with that limit. She enjoyed the challenge, and cites her book Sleepy Dog as an example. "Sleepy Dog is the most successful book I've ever done, in terms of number of books sold." She's also been working on a developmental program with publisher Dorling Kindersley, made up of books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her book Pete's Chicken, which was illustrated by Laura Rader, was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review as "a simple, sweet 'Song of Myself' for children . . . [which] applauds the specialness of every child as it reminds parents of the healing power of just being there for children." Among her other books is a series of easy-to-read books, such as Trip Day and Worm Day, about an inventive science teacher and his rambunctious class of students. Ziefert's book Let's Get a Pet was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by a joint committee of the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council. . Ms. Ziefert lives in Maplewood, New Jersey and Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has two adult sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Illustrations, January 26, 2001

By 

"55dw" (Blagoevgrad Bulgaria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Snow Child (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a sweet retelling of an old tale,but what makes it prticularly good are the charming illustrations by Julia Zanes. Both my six year old and 10 year old daughters love it and we've given several copies as presents this winter.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fond Memories, June 29, 2010

By 

Lori Mevaa (Olympia Fields, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Snow Child (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book as a child, when my father would read it to me before bedtime I would get so excited, it was my favorite. I would recommend it for any young child. To me this book is a must have, so I am ordering it again since the copy I had when I was a child got worn out, now I can read it to my children.