WINTER

A multiethnic cast of characters is shown cheerfully engaged in seasonal activities.

Sharing the pattern of all the books in the Seasons series, this celebration of the coldest months starts “I know it’s winter when...” and then provides seasonal markers framed within a child's day. From the observation that “my toes are cold in the morning” through “snow fights” and warming bowls of soup to a warm snuggle at bedtime, activities depicted are fairly typical for snowy climates. Although the book is written in first person, no one child is consistently depicted, so readers are never quite sure who is speaking. The children shown are older than board-book readers, and there is more text than would be tolerated by many toddlers. This British import reveals some incongruities that may puzzle American readers. For example, though the narrator says that “It's time for snowsuits, big boots and funny hats,” there is no snow on the ground, and two travel trailers are in the background. In companion Summer, two children splash in an inflatable pool but seem overdressed in long-sleeved and long-legged play suits rather than swimsuits, and children pick blackberries in Fall instead of Summer.

An arbitrary listing of activities loosely connected by the concept of seasons, the book may be too wordy for toddlers and doesn’t provide enough substance to engage preschoolers.