A Song for Snow

August 15, 2017
Hoot and Peep, the adorable owl siblings, are back, this time in a story that introduces little sister Peep to a new phenomenon: snow.The season has changed, but the two birds' natures remain the same. Hoot likes to seem wise, and Peep interprets the world around her through song. When Hoot predicts that snow is coming soon but won't tell her what it will sound like (he doesn't admit that he's forgotten), Peep attempts to guess. Once again, Judge uses delightfully creative language. Peep asks, "Does snow drop, ploppety splop, like the rain's song" or "swish swooooooo like the wind's song," or "scrrinkle scrattle like falling leaves?" As the birds converse, they swoop through the romantic Parisian night, where glowing lights, bright store windows, and decorated shrubbery suggest that the holiday season is near. When the snow finally arrives, typical winter shenanigans come along with the white stuff. As in Hoot and Peep (2016), the two birds are accompanied by a mouse who brandishes a carved staff. Big-eyed and smiling, all of the animals pictured have a cartoon-style charm. Judge's text consists primarily of the siblings' dialogue and is pleasingly playful. The luminous watercolors, enhanced with "a few digital finishing touches," should have wide appeal. Festive and sprightly, this entry will likely leave listeners wondering what the pair will get up to when spring rolls around. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Judge's watercolor animal illustrations are endearing and atmospheric and her writing shimmers with music and whimsy. In her second story about the two owl siblings, Hoot and Peep sail over rooftops and holiday-lit evergreens as little Peep's big brother tries to remember what snow is like. "Does it scrrinkle scrattle like falling leaves?" asks Peep. Hoot recalls only that snow is cold, and he wraps his sister in a warm scarf. Then he lies in a treetop and waits for the first flake to fall. Peep isn't so patient-"I don't believe you. I think you just made it up"-and flies off with her little mouse friend to gather more information. What she does gather is some more wonderful sounds that children will want to echo: "Schweepity peep, chickity choot." Then the first feathery white flakes fall, mesmerizing every animal. "Snow's song is silence," Peep whispers to her brother as they watch the world turn white. VERDICT This delightful seasonal read-aloud provides excellent sibling role models while it gently amuses and entrances young listeners. A first purchase.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, NY

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January 1, 2018
Owl Hoot tells his younger sister, Peep, what to expect from her first snowfall. Their near-book-length anticipation does not a story make, and Judge over-relies on Peep's cute noises (e.g., "Does snow drop, �cf2]ploppety splop�cf1], like the rain's song?"), first introduced in �cf2]Hoot and Peep�cf1]. Still, as far as winter wonderlands go, Judge's digitally tweaked watercolors are a beautiful sight.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)