The Big Snow

The southward flight of a flock of geese heralds the coming of winter in this Caldecott Medal-winning picture book from Berta and Elmer Hader, and all of the various animals on the hillside overlooking a great river stop and watch their journey. Each thinks of their own food store, of the fact that they themselves have no trouble foraging in winter, or of their coming hibernation, and settle in for the coming season. But when a big snow comes and buried the world, they find they might have trouble after all, until the little old couple in the stone house nearby appear, and provide food for them...

Published in 1948, The Big Snow netted author/illustrator team (and husband and wife) Berta and Elmer Hader the 1949 Caldecott Medal, an honor show more which followed the Caldecott Honors they won in 1940 for their Cock-a-Doodle Doo and 1944 for The Mighty Hunter. Notably, they also illustrated Cornelia Meigs' 1921 children's novel, The Windy Hill, which was chosen as a Newbery Honor Book in 1922, the year the award was first established. In any case, I have read both of the earlier Hader picture books, and enjoyed the artwork in them, so I went in expecting to be pleased on that score. I was not disappointed, appreciating the lovely, naturalistic depiction of various animal species, whether in black and white or in color. My favorite scene, visually, was the two-page spread, in color, depicting the hillside covered in snow, the Hudson a pale blue below. I am fond of wintry scenes, and this one was particularly lovely. The setting is taken from the Haders' own home, on the New Jersey Palisades above the Hudson River, and they themselves are the older couple depicted feeding the animals. No doubt that familiarity gave the visuals here more authenticity, and immediacy. The text is engaging, although quite long for a picture book, and is one I would really only recommend to older picture book audiences, or those with a good attention span. For such listeners, especially one on one, this might make a very nice, quiet winter-time read. show less

Geese flying south overhead prompt the forest animals to run through their winter plans: migrating, hibernating, foraging, etc.

Nice pictures and informative, but too dull and flat for me.

You just have to love the names of the authors of this 1949 Caldecott Medal winner. Berta and Elmer! The names and the story harkens back to a simple time when life was not rushed -- a time when there was leisure to observe nature and animals in preparation for the winter.

The Haders lived in a home in the woods that they built themselves. This is a story of their observations of animals who did not go south, but remained, some slept through and hibernated, others had to be resilliant.

The illustrations are beautiful. The story is simple and as quiet as the soft patter of raccoon's paws over the crusted snow.

Some animals leave for warmer climates when winter approaches, while others store up food or prepare in other ways. When a big snow comes and covers up all the food, the animals must rely on the kindness of an old man and woman who feed them to help them through the harsh winter.

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader is a children's picture book which receive the Caldecott Medal in 1949. It tells of how different animals prepare for the coming winter, and how they survive after a big snow.

The art is charming. Some pages are black-and-white, done in pencil, while others contain watercolors. The penciled illustrations are quite detailed, and the watercolors are lovely, too.

Although the animals are ultimately secure, I think it's a little show more sad that all their preparation was for naught. It makes the deer, who believed that there would be food for all, growing plentifully, seem quite foolish. Then again, they are just animals.

The Big Snow is an excellent children's book, featuring many creatures, beautifully illustrated. Definitely recommended.

This review is also published on my blog. show less

All the creatures of the forest watch as the geese begin their migration to the South. This is the sign that they need to be well prepared for winter. Coats thicken, burrows are dug or warm caves found, stores of seeds and grain are secured. But when the big snow comes it is difficult for the squirrels, deer, cardinals, and other woodland critters to find food. But a couple living in a little house comes to their rescue, shoveling out a path, and spreading seeds, corn and bread out for their forest-dwelling friends.

What a lovely story of nature’s effects on the animals of the forest. I can almost hear the snowflakes falling, faster and faster, until they cover everything. The illustrations are beautiful … showing the hustle and show more bustle of preparations, the delight in a first snowfall, the quiet serenity of a forest blanketed in white. show less

In this wonderfully-illustrated children’s picture book, the geese head south, the forest animals don their heavy coats, and winter comes to the woodland. But what happens to the animals when the Big Snow comes?

A recipient of the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children, the appealing illustrations add to the charming story, certain to delight young and old alike.

Highly recommended.

The woodland animals were all getting ready for the winter. Geese flew south, rabbits and deer grew thick warm coats, and the raccoons and chipmunks lay down for a long winter nap. Come Christmastime, the wise owls were the first to see the rainbow around the moon. It was a sure sign that the big snow was on its way.