When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in Our Snowy Woods

“When winter comes... some people think our woods are empty. But we know better.” This lyrical, informative tale features a family of four spending time in the snow while pointing out the surrounding fauna’s wintertime activities. Bissonette’s prose sparkles even as she imparts factual information: “We know/ the windswept drifts we snowshoe across/ cover tangles of tunnels below the snow...// made by meadow mice/ in search of seeds/ and bark.” In detailed cutaways, Hourigan emphasizes the delight of the frolicking family as they lob snowballs, snowshoe, and ice-fish, while balancing the close proximity and contrasting experiences of the animals, who hibernate and hunt, swim and wander. A familial picture book that expertly depicts wintry human behaviors alongside those of the natural world—one that is “very much alive” in winter. Ages 4–8. [em](Oct.) [/em]