When you grow up in Minnesota, snow is a part of your world. From playing in it until your feet are so cold and wet that your grandmother will scold while you drink hot cocoa to lifting your feet high as you trudge through knee-deep snow to a bus stop that’s farther away than it has ever been, snow is a fixture in your thoughts.
But ten ways to hear snow? Doesn’t snow fall silently? How does one hear snow?
Cathy Camper knows the answer. All ten of them. And Kenard Pak illustrates this book with such care that the sounds come alive.
The bare trees are stark against the urban, winter landscape and Pak captures the shadows that paint the white, white snow. His snowy landscapes feel immense yet intimate.
Kokila / Penguin Random House, 2020
Can you imagine what the sounds are?
“Scraaape, scrip, scraaape, scrip.”
Exactly. A shovel against the sidewalk. The author identifies sounds that are immediately familiar to children and adults who know snowfall.
“Swish-wish, swish-wish.”
Of course. The windshields being swept clear of snow. Snow-time activities create sounds.
Cathy Camper worked for many years as a K‑12 librarian. She has created an irresistible read-aloud. Ten Ways to Hear Snow will encourage listeners to make their own snow sounds, discuss other ways to hear snow, and learn about onomatopoeia.
Lina, the main character, is walking through snow to visit her Sitti, her grandmother, who lives in an independent living building. The two are going to stuff grape leaves, an activity that’s harder for Sitti because her sight is failing. Sounds have become very important to this grandmother and granddaughter.
Camper dedicates this book to her Lebanese family. Words and food are presented within the text that will invite further learning when the book is closed.
It’s a charming book for those who know snow well and those who would like to. The descriptive language and the digital paintings combine to give us a treasure.
Highly recommended.
Ten Ways to Hear Snow
written by Cathy Camper
illustrated by Kenard Pak
Kokila / Penguin Random House, 2020
What a lovely and persuasive reveiw, Vicki. I’m sold! Ordering not one but two copies today… one for me, and one for two dear friends, one of the couple with Lebanese roots who still cooks the traditional foods he knew as a child.
That makes me happy, Tunie. Spreading the enjoyment of good books … ahhhh.
I love this book! One thing I really appreciate is the Midwestern setting. I heard Cathy talking about this in an interview, how the first illustrations looked very New England‑y and because of her Wisconsin roots she was very intentional in wanting it to look and feel like the Midwest.
That’s fascinating, Suzan. Thanks for adding that to the knowledge bank.