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Friday, November 27, 2020

Snow Friends, written by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2020. $25.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Back in the woods ... 
The two dogs dashed around trees, 
up and down hills, and 
across snowy fields. 

"Let's build a snow 
dog!" barked Oscar.
"

I know there are many children awaiting the first big dump of snow! In this exuberant tale, Oscar feels the same. He wants his boy to take him outside where adventure beckons. Matt, the boy, promises they will go out later in the day. Oscar can't wait. Off he bounds! 

Life on his own is filled with great adventure for Oscar, and gets even better when he meets up with another spirited dog named Daisy. With great abandon and much delight, the two run and romp, chase a ball, and then spend further time together building a snow dog, ice-skating, and constructing an igloo. Their friendship deepens with each minute they spend together. 

Matt is concerned when Oscar is nowhere to be found. It's time to track him down. In doing so, he meets the girl who is Daisy's owner. There is no question that they will join in the obvious fun their two pets are having. A new friendship is born. Together, the four share the warmth of the igloo - the dogs resting after their lively play, the children sharing hot cocoa while in the coziness of the igloo's shelter. 

Will Hillenbrand's mixed media illustrations are filled with action and great wonder. They are described as being 'created with 6B graphite pencil, colored pencil, chalk, pastel, pixels, china marker, crayon, ink, watercolor (with a melted snowball), collage, transparent tape, and kneaded eraser on paper." WHEW! It took me straight back to spending further time looking as his energetic spreads. Delightful!                                                                             



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