ROBERT’S SNOW

Robert, a playful mouse, and his sensible family live in a dilapidated shoe. Unlike his family who finds snow problematic, Robert loves the wintry white that blankets his landscape. But for the others, the deep snow and stormy weather mean nothing but work and worry. Winter sets in, snow falls, slowly covering the boot. A strong gust of wind blows open Robert’s window, and soon he’s out frolicking. Play turns to panic when he decides to return to his house: it’s nowhere in sight. While frozen with fright, he’s spotted, snatched up, and carried back to his warm, safe room by a red furry someone. Once spring arrives and the snow melts, the family ventures outside again, discovering a new shoe-home. Illustrations range in color and intensity from a deep, dense blue of a wintry night-sky, to fluffy, white snowflakes. Lin portrays Robert’s glee perfectly as he romps, somersaults, falls, and exclaims, “I love the snow!” The huge mitten and shoe juxtaposed with Robert’s tiny tail heighten the suspense as he attempts to hide. The illustrations convey what Robert knows and the young reader learns about that eventful Christmas Eve. (Picture book. 3-6)