There's very little time in Northern states like Maine between putting the lawnmowers away and hauling out the snow shovels. For adults the expected precipitation can conjure up not so pleasant thoughts of shoveling snow from cars, paths, and steps in frigid temps, dealing with treacherous driving conditions, and sharing the roads with people who have forgotten that these driving conditions require caution. But for our littlest kids the white stuff heralds a time of wonder, enchantment, and adventure. I got my hands on a few wonderful winter volumes that will come in handy pretty darn soon. They'll engage our kids and maybe, if we're truly fortunate, rekindle in our hearts a little of the magic.
Caralyn and Mark Buehner's snowmen books give kids fascinating glimpses into the secret lives of those loveable creations. Snowmen At Work is no exception. The book's bundled up narrator comes out of the house first thing in the morning to shovel the walk only to see it's clear. The only one outside is their proud looking snowman. Is it possible? Readers and listeners are shown other jobs the Frosties of this world can handle. Maybe your child can think of a few more occupations.
When you were a kid did you stick to you stick to the safe sledding hills or seek out something more challenging? As you probably can guess, I was and continue to be of the latter persuasion. At one point I tried to find Bangor's most formidable hill. I even ventured down the hill in Cascade Park which is quite steep with lots of stuff to crash into. Luckily the park lies between the hill and Route 2 so I didn't spin out into traffic. Then I had to make sure my kids, rather than my parents, didn't find out.
James Yang's Go, Sled! Go! Gives kids a breathtaking literary adventure. Our everychild narrator makes their way down a mountain, picking up various critters--even a moose and a penguin--on the way down. Some of their maneuvers look like something accomplished by a roller coaster. This is a perfect read aloud. Even the most timid adults will deliver with expression. And the text is sparse enough for little kids to "read" it themselves after hearing it a few times. Talk about a confidence builder!
Of course winter and holidays go hand in hand. Finally there's an alternative to that moldy oldie Twelve Days Of Christmas with its allusions going back to a time when the rich lived in castles and everyone else made do with hovels. Lords a leaping? Seriously.
Twelve Dinging Doorbells brings the Christmas song into the 21st century. A family reunion is afoot. Members arrive bearing their culinary specialties. No pallid Better Homes and Gardens fare. We're talking chitlins, baked macaroni and cheese, and the narrator's favorite sweet potato pie. Children of color will enjoy this fine book's lively representation.
A fun project for family or older kid would be making a novel version around interests or experiences. Football season? Vacation? Surviving a challenge? Building a tree house?
When COVID was just settling in my 12 days of pandemic consisted of
One stay at home mandate
Two hamsters fussing
Three kids to homeschool
Four dogs to walk
Five stir crazy cats
Six politicians ranting
Seven scammers calling
Eight scary statistics
Nine people testing positive
Ten surfaces to sanitize
Eleven times to wash hands
Twelve mom I'm boreds.
Surely you can do better.
Anyway these fine books would be great holiday gifts sure to be treasured by lucky recipients.
On a purrrsonal note, I'm not yet all out grinchy on winter yet. Just ambivalent. I still get the enchantment of the first flakes dancing through the air. I enjoy activities like sledding, snowball fights, and sculpting snow critters, especially cats. But on days when to get to school I have to walk a mile down sidewalk less Route 2 in the middle of a blizzard with crap visibility and cars and trucks speeding all around and then stand in slush that soaks through my boots while waiting for a bus that might not show up I'm so not feeling the magic. (Jules)
I don't like winter. It gets too cold. And the birds are away down south. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to all who enjoy the magic of the season at least part of the time.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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