Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  Every night, Rabbit listens to the traffic on a distant road and dreams of traveling.  He lives vicariously through old Dog, who used to travel all over the country on his motorbike.  Dog loves to share his stories, and Rabbit loves to hear them. Then one day, Dog is gone, and the motorbike comes to live with Rabbit.  The seasons pass, and the motorbike sits quietly while Rabbit goes about his chores. Then one night, he dreams of the bike’s engine howling.  The next morning, he tells the bike, “Just down the road.” But the road is longer than Rabbit anticipates, and it’s a long time until he returns home, full of stories of his own to share with a new friend.  48 pages; ages 4-9.

Pros:  A deceptively quiet and simple story about slowly moving on from loss and overcoming your fears.  This book was as thought-provoking for me as I imagine it would be for any 6-year-old.

Cons:  Dog’s death is described so subtly that kids might miss it.

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  At the beginning of winter, Little Snow’s mother makes him a new feather bed, reminding him not to jump on it.  Of course, the minute her back is turned, he can’t resist, bouncing on the bed until feathers start to spill from it.  All winter long, he jumps whenever he can, feathers leaking out each time. One time, the bed rips open: “What a lot of feathers fell that day!”  The illustration on that page moves from Little Snow’s bed to a city block blanketed in snow. Ah-ha! Little Snow and his mother live up in the clouds, and the feathers are snow.  On the last page, Little Snow’s mother has discovered the featherless bed, and the boy is unrepentant: “Aren’t you glad? Now all we have to do is fill it again next winter!” 40 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  This follow-up to Lin’s Caldecott Honor book A Big Mooncake for Little Star has the same feel of a myth or folktale with a child and parent pairing that will be familiar to young readers.  Perfect as a bedtime or winter read-aloud.

Cons:  The story and illustrations aren’t quite as rich as A Big Mooncake.

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Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  The first four pages are wordless illustrations, showing a child riding on a train, then pulling the string for a stop.  Emerging, the child declares, “I know what it’s like to be small in the city.” For a few pages, the narrator describes that experience–it’s loud, people don’t see you, it can be hard to know the right thing to do.  Then, “But I know you. You’ll be all right. If you want, I can give you some advice.” It sounds like the subject in question is homeless, as the advice is all about avoiding dark alleyways and resting under a warm dryer vent.  But then, “In the park I have a favorite bench. Sometimes my friend is there….You could sit on her lap and she will pet you.” The child posts a sign for a lost cat, and it all becomes clear. There’s a warm hug from Mom waiting at home, and the final page shows cat prints in the snow, opening up the possibility that the cat has returned.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Wow, this book really packs a punch with some pretty spare text.  I like that the ending is ambiguous but with a hint of optimism. The illustrations are perfect, with the blurry snowscapes that could be the result of teary eyes.

Cons:  This seemed a bit dark for several pages, which could worry some listeners.