ANIMALS IN THE SNOW
by Margaret Wise Brown & illustrated by Carol Schwartz
Another never-published manuscript from Brown (The Diggers, p. 464), who seems to be experiencing a minor renaissance. The patterns often found in her work are here: simple story line, restrained text, pleasing repetition. Five animals—a squirrel, a bird, a bunny, a cat, and a dog—are joined by a boy and a girl as they welcome and revel in a late winter snowfall. When the sun melts the snow, they celebrate spring in the discovery of a single snowdrop in bloom. Schwartz's sweetly rendered gouache paintings add to the old-fashioned style of the piece. (Picture book. 2-5)