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.

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  A girl tries to stall bedtime by asking a series of difficult questions, but her father is always one step ahead of her.  “Why is the ocean blue?” “Every night, when you go to sleep, the fish take out guitars. They sing sad songs and cry blue tears.”  While none of the answers is accurate, they show a great deal of imagination. When the girl explodes with sixteen questions on a two-page spread, her father tells her it’s time to go to sleep.  Why? “Because there are some things we can only see with our eyes closed.” 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I love Mac Barnett–who doesn’t?–but my favorite part of this book is Isabelle Arsenault’s illustrations, brimming with imagination but with a muted palette perfect for nighttime.  Showing a jumble of shells, animals, planets, and a guitar in the girl’s bedroom hints at the inquisitive minds that are part of this family. A perfect bedtime story.

Cons:  All those marbles scattered on the floor seem like a nighttime hazard.

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