Snow Globe Wishes

Gentle rhyming text and naïf illustrations dominated by lovely pale yellow and teal tones are impeccably paired in this heartwarming book. During the "worst storm of the year," a family of four eats takeout in front of a blazing fireplace ("Picnic dinners, / candle light./ Darkness draws us close tonight") and then settles down to sleep in a cozy blanket fort as one child makes "snow globe wishes." The morning brings clear skies and a "snow globe day" that enticingly beckons townsfolk young and old, who frolic in the snow before joining hands and forming a circle around a Christmas tree. As the wishes behind the story are revealed--"Peace on earth./ Right now./ Right here./ Peace for all throughout the year!"--the family's cat and dog, back at home, peer into a snow globe in which the outdoor scenario is duplicated. Dealey and Shorrock create a winsome, hopeful portrait of family and community bonds. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2-When a snowstorm sends workers home early, a family of four makes the most of the situation. The wind blows, the electricity falters, and everyone hunkers down for a cozy night at home. The family, which includes a dark-skinned mother, son and daughter and a light-skinned, mustachioed father, eat dinner sitting on the floor in front of a roaring fireplace while the snow quietly deepens outside the window. Told in rhyming couplets, the narrative describes the idyllic night, complete with a family storytime, a blanket fort, and sleeping on the living room floor. A bright morning brings a free day to spend together building snowmen, sledding, and making snow angels. A decorated tree in the corner indicates that Christmas is near, and the final wish is for the new year: "Peace on earth. Right now. Right here. Peace for all throughout the year!" Charming illustrations are childlike with their simple backgrounds and friendly villagers who join together in their wish for the future. VERDICT This warmhearted story of family and community, filled with goodwill and hope, will have children wishing for a snow day. A solid seasonal choice.-Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI