Over and Under the Snow


Written by Kate Messner
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Published in 2011

Why we chose this book:
T enjoyed another book by this author and illustrator duo, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt. When this title appeared among our library's new acquisitions, I wanted to take a peek.

Mom's Review

Animals who are active aboveground during winter are contrasted with creatures below the snow.

As a boy cross-country skis, his father points out evidence of animals above ground and explains about how some animals are safe and warm below the snow. As they continue to ski, the boy narrates various animals he passes, from foxes to mice to bears to bees, and what they are each doing over or under the snow. The illustrations show the entire scene above and below ground.

I often see tracks in the snow in our yard and speculate with T what left them and what the animals were doing. This connects well to those conversations, and I hope it will spark T's curiosity and lead us to investigate more animal habits. There is an appendix in this book with facts about all of the animals, as well as recommendations for further reading.

Son's Review
(age 3 years)
While reading:
Son, pointing to a vole: What's that? I think it's a mouse.

Mom: Let's read and find out..it's a vole.

Son, authoritatively: It's a vole.

Son, pointing to fox: There's a wolf!

Mom: It does look a wolf. But it's red, so I think it's a....

Son: A fox!

Mom, pointing to the camouflaged rabbit: Here's the bunny. It's white.

Son: I would want to hug a white bunny.

After reading:
Mom: What was this book about?

Son: A little boy and his daddy.

Mom: I thought it was interesting that bees hibernate under the snow. I didn't know that.

Son: Bees did! They did that for their hiding. That is their hiding place.

Mom: What was your favorite animal?

Son: There was a red fox.

Mom: Did the book make you want to look in the snow for tracks? What animal?

Son: Yeah. Big [tracks].

Mom: What animal do you most want to know more about?

Son: Bunnies!

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