Over and Under the Snow review

Our winter in Wisconsin this year is not much to speak of... We finally had our first snowfall and cold snap a couple of weeks ago.  For the past two days, the snow we did receive (only about 4-5 inches) is now melting away and the grass is peeking through. Not much fun for us skiers, snowshoers and friendly snowman builders. So to put us back in the spirit of winter, I found this beautiful book about animals living in a secret kingdom underneath our world. A little girl and her father are skiing through the woods and exploring what winter has to offer. She learns about how animals make homes underneath her while she glides above them through the snow. The text has soft, gentle and nice descriptive word choices. I was reading as if I were there taking in the magical moments myself.  The illustrations are peaceful and full of wonderment as you look around and spot the living things hidden underground. This is a wonderful book to learn about animal habitats and how different creatures survive the winter months.  I enjoyed the back of the book where the author has a special note and various descriptions of each animal mentioned in the story.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title: Over and Under the Snow
Author: Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Pub. Date: 2011, Chronicle Books
Picture Book
Hardcover, 40 pgs.