Author: Kate Messner
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
Over and Under the Snow is a children’s picture book written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. It was released back in 2011 and kicked off the Over and Under series, which has since come to include Over and Under the Pond, Garden, Rainforest, Canyon, and most recently, Waves. Each one is beautiful and looks at the different plants and animals that live in that space.
In Over and Under the Snow, a child and parent glide through the snowy woods on their skis and learn about the lives of animals in winter. There’s the red squirrel diving under the snow for a hidden acorn and the great horned owl up in the tree branches keeping watch. There’s the deer and the deer mice, the vole and the fox, the beavers and the bear. As the child and parent make their way home, to a crackling fire and gooey marshmallows, the book shows all the different animals as they eat and sleep and hibernate. And at the end, what does the child do? Snuggle deep under the bed covers, just like the animals under the snow.
The illustrations in this book are wonderful – the colors tend to be soft and muted, often in the blue and black color families, in contrast to the white snow. Plus, the author is a teacher so the book adds a special element at the end. There are little snippets with facts about each of the animals mentioned, as well as resources for further reading. Kiddos might not be able to cross-country ski in Enid like the characters, but they can still learn about all of the interesting animals that are over and under them the next time it snows!
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Over and Under the Snow today!
