This week, I’m sharing books all about winter. From snow to hibernating animals, these books are perfect for reading during the winter season. Find a blanket, get cozy, and read with a child in your life.
Click HERE to see all the winter books!
COUNTING WINTER
By: Nancy White Carlstrom
Illustrated by: Claudia McGehee
Published: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Fiction
I was thrilled to find out that the illustrator of this book lives in Iowa, not too far from me. I wasn’t familiar with her but now I’ll be watching for her unique scratchboard style illustrations. Claudia is extremely talented!
The author was inspired by her family’s adventures while living in Alaska. Claudia’s illustrations combined with Nancy’s lyrical writing bring us into the beauty of winter. As we count through the pages starting with one red fox and continuing through eleven chickadees, kids will see the animals surviving winter. From squirrels cracking nuts to sled dogs pulling sleds, all the animals have ways of surviving the cold, below-zero temperatures, and snow.
“Twelve excited children slip and slide on melting ice happily meeting spring.”
The final page shows twelve children playing in the melting snow with crocuses poking through the ground as the first sign of spring. Aside from the reading, kids will be able to count the animals on the pages. I liked that the author used the number words instead of the numbers so kids also learn how the numbers are spelled not just how they look.
The end of the book includes profiles of each of the animals mentioned in the book. Both the author and the illustrator also share personal notes about the inspiration behind writing and illustrating this book. This book will hopefully encourage young readers to head outside and enjoy the beauty of winter in their area.
Don’t miss the activity pages with this book, HERE.
Nancy White Carlstrom has written over sixty books for children, including Before You Were Born (Eerdmans), Mama, Will It Snow Tonight? (Boyds Mills Press), and the bestselling Jesse Bear series (Scholastic). Counting Winter was shaped by the nineteen years Nancy and her family called Alaska home. She currently lives in the Seattle area and enjoys seeing Alaskan wildlife—and her grandchildren—on trips back to the state. Visit her website at nancywhitecarlstrom.com.
Claudia McGehee is the illustrator and sometimes author of many picture books, including Begin with a Bee, Creekfinding (both University of Minnesota Press), and My Wilderness (Little Bigfoot). In starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, Claudia’s scratchboard illustrations have been praised as “meticulous” and “striking.” Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Claudia now lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Visit her website at claudia-mcgehee.com.
To purchase a copy of COUNTING WINTER, click HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
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Posted Under Alaska, Book Review, Children's books, Claudia McGehee, counting, fiction, Iowa Illustrator, Nancy White Carlstrom, winter