Snowy Books

Yesterday and today, another foot of snow fell here in St. Paul. Our winter snow total so far is 73", which is far above the average of 52" a year. And it's not even March, which often is the snowiest month!

I have been doing plenty of complaining. But, I've decided to stop. Instead, I'm going to to list my favorite books about SNOW!

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. I love how the little boy tries to keep a snowball in his coat pocket only to find a wet spot the next morning. (Note to would-be snowball keepers - Put it in the freezer.)

Snow by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Lauren Stringer. I love everything written by Cynthia Rylant. Also, Lauren Stringer is a local illustrator who is very talented.

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer. Stringer wrote and illustrated this book which is about all the warm aspects of winter like hot chocolate and roaring fires.

Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Beth Krommes. I love the woodcut illustrations in this book. Plus, Root's text is so lyrical.

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons by Il Sung Na. This new picture book, which has lovely art (and a super cute rabbit character), shows what different animals do during the winter.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. Another classic. We sure could use Katy and her snowplowing skills today!

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian. True story about Wilson Bentley, a man who studied and photographed snowflakes.

Flu Season

It's February and Flu Season has arrived. My daughter and I are home sick with the flu. High temps, sore throat, cough, congestion, the works. Ugh!

Note to self: Get flu shot next year.

Being stuck at home in bed has one advantage - it's a good time to catch up on some reading. Here's what my 12 (almost 13) year-old daughter is reading:

Pandora Gets Angry by Carolyn Hennesy. This is the 5th book in a good series about Pandora and the seven evils that escape from the box she opens.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. First book in his new series about Camp Half-Blood.

Here's what I'm reading:

The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker. I got an advance reader copy of Anne's new book and I'm just starting it now. It's about a "luckless" family and the one young Button whose luck begins to change. Anne is a friend and I'm excited to read her new novel.

In Cod We Trust by Eric Dregni. I asked for this one for Christmas. Eric and his wife, Katy, move to Trondheim, Norway for a year on a Fulbright Fellowship. While there, Katy gives birth to their first child, a boy named Eilif. Some of my own relatives come from (and still live in) Trondheim. I've never been there but my parents have and I'm checking it out vicariously through my folks and this book.

Time for some Theraflu and sleep. Good reading. Goodnight.