Cold Snap

The small town of Toby Mills, named after its founder General Toby, whose statue stands in the town square, experiences a cold snap in this charming wintry picture-book from author Eileen Spinelli and illustrator Marjorie Priceman. As the temperature drops and drops, the townsfolk go from happy enjoyment - the kids sledding and building snowmen, everyone partaking of hot soup and stew at Sullivan Diner - to irritation at the continued cold, and their constant efforts to stay warm. The, their mayor, conscious of their slackening morale, organizes a wonderful community event...

With the recent snowstorms here in the northeast U.S., and the continued low temperatures, Cold Snap couldn't have come at a better time in my reading schedule. I definitely identified with the freezing residents of Toby Mills, and found the tale of their wintertime doings engaging. The vibrant artwork, done by Marjorie Priceman in gouache, is colorful and appealing, capturing the community's active lifestyle. I don't know that it really speaks of winter to me - something more restrained, in paler shades, would better capture the beauty of the snowy world, I think - but then, it's depicting people in winter, rather than a winter landscape. All in all, this was a sweet little wintertime book, and is recommended to young readers looking for seasonal fare. ( )

Although the illustrations were not a style that is my favorite, I think kids would like them because there is a lot happening in all the pictures.The story is about what the people in town are doing during a cold spell. It starts fun (sledding, etc.) gets brutal (everyone cold, furnaces dying) and ends happy (bonfire on the hill).

Genre: Picture ( )

Warm, cheerful story about townfolk making the most of a cold, cold, winter. ( )

I really love this book! The illustrations are complex - showing the goings-on around town as the temperature plummets day after day. ( )

This is a delightful book filled with wonderful winter vocabulary and charming illustrations. It's a great read aloud for all ages! ( )