Utterly charming, and informative, to boot readers brought up on a diet of rhymes, bright colors, and adorable fluffy animals will find its simple beauty a balm.New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. “The lyrical descriptions of the text and the gray/brown/ice-blue palette of the illustrations leave readers with a retro feel that harkens back to the earlier days of children’s books and bygone times when life seemed simpler. “A good choice for winter reading, this quiet but eye-opening picture book could heighten a child’s awareness of the natural world.” “An adult and child cross-country ski through a winter forest wonderland, beautifully rendered through Messner’s spare, poetic words and Neal’s block-print-looking mixed-media illustrations.” I lick sticky marshmallow from my lips and lean back with heavy eyes”) with debut illustrator Neal’s quiet, woodcut-like portraits of the snowy forest.” “Straddling the informative and the evocative, this lovely study of the ways animals spend the winter in a “secret kingdom under the snow” combines Messner’s (Sea Monster’s First Day) graceful prose (“Over the snow, the fire crackles, and sparks shoot up to the stars. “Messner packs much information into the serene wintry landscape, beautifully captured in Neal’s stunning retro-style illustrations. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter’s snowy landscape in this magical book.

But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow.

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. Virginia Readers’ Choice Award Primary Nominee.New Hampshire Ladybug Picture Book Award Nominee.Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children & Teens.NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Book for Science.White Read Aloud Award for Younger Readers Finalist Winner of the 2012 Golden Kite Award from SCBWI.Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 19, 2011).

Kate messner over and under the snow