Winter Magic

A cozy poem to celebrate the winter season.

PreS-K--In the coldest months of the year, winter delights and surprises with the beauty, wonder, and magic it contains. From skating across frozen ice to warming up with a mug of hot chocolate, winter is filled with opportunities for cherished memories to be made. This book is told from the perspective of Winter personified, an unseen character who uses the first-person to detail everything it brings to its conventionally cold and snowy season. Rhyming lines and descriptive phrases celebrate Winter, while the accompanying illustrations bring the text to life. Visible pencil lines and watercolor hues offer a diverse collection of children participating in many experiences iconic to the season. These images are the primary focus of each spread, and while they are not as loud, dynamic, and dramatic, they vividly provide the cozy feel of the world they represent. Young readers will find this story to be particularly accessible due to the large font, rhyming text, and brief sentences used within it. Additionally, rich vocabulary enhances the narrative while providing listeners with potentially new words to add to their stores. Onomatopoeia and repetition round out the telling to create a multifaceted listening experience for children who are being read to. Readers who enjoy tales that celebrate the beauty in every season will appreciate the design and execution of this book. VERDICT This is a fun addition to seasonal picture book collections for young readers.--Mary R. Lanni

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade:

"Following a spread showing a sun-kissed pumpkin patch at dusk, this Halloween extravaganza from collaborators Burleigh and Minor presents a parade of comically ugly, jack-o'-lantern-headed zombies lumbering across its page.... Though language warns readers to 'beware, be wise!' the procession reads as more inviting accounting than genuine threat, especially as the parade winds down into a graveyard snooze." —Publishers Weekly

"In propulsive rhyming verse and spooky watercolor and gouache illustrations ('mixed with digital'), readers are introduced to the participants in a parade of zombies with jack-o'-lanterns for heads.... Burleigh and Minor's latest collaboration is perfect for young readers who enjoy a bit of 'shiver and quiver' in their picture books." —Horn Book

"Just scary enough to please those looking for a mild fright.... Burleigh brings out the silly side of the undead with rhymes.... Minor's watercolor and gouache illustrations, which feature an emojilike range of zombie expressions, soften the spooky couplets.... A natural fit for Halloween-themed read alouds and activities."—School Library Journal