ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Following up on Awesome Autumn (2012), this large-format book introduces winter through observations, pertinent facts, and clear, colorful photos. Posing questions that will engage children, the text asks how winter feels, sounds, and tastes. It explains why deciduous trees drop their leaves before winter and how evergreens protect their needles. It discusses whether every snowflake is unique and what it means to "see your breath" on cold days. The pages on animals in winter give examples of species that hibernate or experience torpor, as well as others that forage throughout the season, though their diets may change. Inviting audience participation, a double-page spread offers photos of 20 seasonal objects and asks, "What Shape Is Winter?" The final section tells how to make a half-dozen simple winter projects, such as paper snowflakes, a snow globe, glittering icicle pictures, a pinecone bird feeder, and fake snow. With its appealing illustrations and clearly presented information, here's a fine resource for teachers discussing winter with young children. Consider multiple copies.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

This companion to Awesome Autumn is a lively and informative combination of various scientific facts about what happens in winter; spreads of simple labeled photos on topics such as seasonal sensations, phenomena, and activities; and a few craft ideas, including making fake snow from the white powder found in disposable diapers. The shifts in topic are abrupt, and the targeted age level feels inconsistent.

School Library Journal (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

K-Gr 3 An exploration of the wonders of winter. Big, bold text starts off the reading adventure, with smaller, more detailed text following up. The title begins with the theme of waiting ("We wait for the days to get longer") but soon switches focus to the senses ("How does winter feel?"). There is a lot of read-aloud potential in this book, but the sudden shifts in topics will likely make it a difficult experience. For instance, a spread on winter sounds features winter-related onomatopoeia in large, colorful type ("crunch," "drip," "brrrrrrr") that makes this offering great for sharing with an audience, but the very next spread contains a lengthy discussion of how snow forms. The photos are bright and clear and generally represent the text well, but the layout is very busy. VERDICT A browsable selection on the winter season. Goldstone's Awesome Autumn is similarly designed, albeit better organized. Rachel Reinwald, Lake Villa District Library, IL