Early to be Waiting for A SNOW DAY FOR AMOS McGEE, But...

It's still early in November, so these drought-stricken midwest streets include some autumn leaves still clinging to trees and clustering along fence lines. Snow days seem a distance memory, even when overnight temperatures have us tugging on a blanket along with our summer sheets. 

On the other hand, snow will come, eventually. And the time is always right to welcome a picture book by the phenomenal creative team of writer Philip C. Stead and illustrator Erin E Stead. Both have produced outstanding offerings in recent years, individually and as a team. But their joint creation, the irresistible zookeeper AMOS McGEE, has not had another starring role since the CALDECOTT MEDAL graced the cover of A SICK DAY FOR AMOS McGEE in 2011. 

Roaring Brook Press, 2025

We needn't wait to celebrate A SNOW DAY FOR AMOS McGEE with the gleeful excitement of the first snowfall of the season. Both the text and the illustrations are tender and gently-paced. The story unfiolds slowly, allowing multiple spreads to absorb the calm and depth of life in Amos's little house. I kept wanting to ascribe another word to the title, "Waiting", since that's what the early pages introduce and take time to explore. His bunny and mouse housemates are just two of the many animal companions that populate his life, on the bus, at work, and back at home again. All waiting.

The fine line illustrations are, in part, black-and-white, while others are colored in the most delicate of natural tones. Text, too, ranges from sheer simplicity to remarkably touching elaboration, as evidenced on the first page:

"Amos McGee loved the snow. Every morning as winter approached, he wrapped himself in  a cozy blanket and listened in hope to the weather report." 

Straightforward and clear, pure and simple. Then the next lines hit you in the heart:

"Amos liked to imagine that his radio was a crackling fireplace. He warmed himself each day with the possibility of good news."

Black and white. Then subtle, heart-throbbing color.  Magnificent.

Throughout the book readers will notice echoes of the original Amos title, not only in the characters and setting, in their comfortable companionship, but in the butter-sunny yellow stripes on the wall, in McGee's little cottage tucked between massive buildings, not unlike THE LITTLE HOUSE by Virginia Lee Burton. Anachronistic, but not the least bit uncomfortable in its place in the world. This could describe the AMOS McGEE books to a "T". The touches of humor throughout have the deft subtlety and smile-making power, with page after page of special details to be noticed on every turn.Nothing is rushed, overplayed, or exaggerated.

And every bit of it is not only enough, it is absolutely "just right".

Patience is a virtue that pays off well in this gem. We are halfway thru the book with only "waiting", although McGee's preparations and faith fill  that first half and give little readers faith and hope. It is only at the midpoint when the fantastical fun begins. The menagerie from the zoo, comfortable in their hand knit wrappings, make their way to McGee's front door. The most  delightful blend of familiar  snow antics with "Let the wild rumpus begin." (WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, SENDAK) captivates and inspires bliss. There is no scrimping on the joyful play, page turn after turn. But a double spread and final single page is reserved to provide one of the most perfect endings you'll find in a picture book.

This is another example of a picture book that will enchant youngest listeners, delight older kiddos, and fully entertain adults. It's original as well as nostalgic. 

Roaring Brook Press, 2011

On the rare chance that you missed the original, be sure to check out A SICK DAY FOR AMOS, too. In fact, give it another look, even if it is an old favorite. It has aged well and is a lovely companion title for gifting!

I AM GRAVITY: A Welcome Companion to I AM SMOKE

 

Tilbury House Publishers, April, 2024

In case you missed it, check out my thoughts about a remarkable picture book from 2021: I AM SMOKE, here. The portrayal used a unique voice and poetic, personified narrative for such a ubiquitous, sometimes nostalgic and other times unwelcome, even tragic part of our lives, SMOKE. That picture book has been hailed as groundbreaking. That's not just my opinion. I (and many others) have been awaiting a companion picture book on some equally challenging abstract, universal experience. It's exciting that I AM GRAVITY is arriving soon. It does not disappoint. Both are written by Henry L. Herz and illustrated by Merce Lopez. 

In I AM GRAVITY, Herz voices a universal force (literally) that's infinitely more complex than smoke. With text that explores familiar daily life and star formation within the same spreads, the power, necessity, and magnificence of GRAVITY in our lives becomes vividly clear. Both concepts and images are illustrated with fluidity and subtle detail that offers something for every age and background on this subject. The limited colors allow gravity's invisibility to be "shown" or suggested through a sense of graceful movement lines and consistent color that catches the eye against neutral background shades. From the cover (ball catch and bouncing hair) to remarkably balanced rocks to black hole activity and star formation, gravity is somehow made visible. 

That's the alchemy of picture books as a format: text and images achieving more than either could accomplish alone. In this case it is also the nearly magical achievement of these two creators to turn potentially mundane scenes into transformational connections that evoke awe, appreciation, and  awareness of a vital life force that we rarely notice without the attention of such an effective homage.

It does not do justice to the complexity and appeal in this new picture book to offer excerpts, and yet I can't resist. Here's one example:

"I tether the moon to the Earth. High tide.

Low tide. I wave to you with the oceans."

Henry L. Herz, author

These two seemingly simple lines reveal the lyrical appeal and the accessibility of this material even to very young audiences. It also sparks curiosity in older readers and invites further exploration of the multilayered science elements and interconnections of gravity in everything we know and do. A few pages of back matter provide direct information for readers and their families. This is an excellent example of WHY and HOW picture books of such high quality have much to offer for readers of many ages, as well as purposeful uses within language arts and content area classrooms. A huge plus is that the young people whose lives are shown in these images are diverse and multicultural, additionally emphasizing the global significance of this topic.

The well-known librarian, Betsy Bird, shares her thoughts about this pair of books and an interview with the author, HERE.

Excerpt: “Holy moly. I think you’ve just written something even better than I Am Smoke.”   – Betsy Bird, librarian and blogger for School Library Journal

Check out the book trailer!

I appreciate and welcome the opportunity to have an advance look at this, (without promise of review) and I hope you'll read more about it, request it at your library, and (pre)order for gifts, your home library, or your classroom. You won't regret it.