★ "An irresistible call to romp, stamp, dance, and listen to the sounds of winter." Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
★ "An exuberant, child-centered picture book romp through the joyful sounds--and silence--of a bright snowy day." Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW
A quiet snowfall, a listening heart—this tender, sensory journey invites young readers to hear the world in a new way
From the beloved creators of Downpour comes The Voice of the Snow!, a gentle and poetic exploration of a snowy morning through the eyes—and ears—of a young child. With lyrical text by Yuko Ohnari and luminous illustrations by Koshiro Hata, this picture book captures the hushed magic of freshly fallen snow and the joy of noticing small things: the squeak of a boot, the hush of snowflakes, and the quiet reply of nature itself. As the boy listens, the snow listens back. In this moment of mutual attention, children are reminded of the beauty in stillness, the playfulness in sound, and the quiet conversation we can have with the world around us. Perfect for seasonal storytimes, quiet moments, and encouraging mindfulness, The Voice of the Snow! is a timeless celebration of wonder, perception, and connection.
Praise
? “An overnight snowfall promises rowdy wonders in the morning. . . Ohnari’s gently exuberant text, translated from Japanese, immerses readers in the child’s sensorial wonderland using onomatopoeia and poetic turns of phrase . . . Hata’s illustrations are delightfully vibrant; the child’s bright-red jacket and yellow hat pop against the blue-white snow. . . Each page exudes joy and invites youngsters to go out and discover the voices of snow for themselves. An irresistible call to romp, stamp, dance, and listen to the sounds of winter.” STARRED REVIEW
—Kirkus Reviews
? "An exuberant, impeccably child-centered story by Yuko Ohnari and Koshiro Hata, the creative duo behind Downpour . . . The picture book features a child who revels in the wonder of a snowy day by focusing on the joyful sounds--and silence--of the snow.
The creativity of this storytelling technique gives the picture book's observations a tactility and sense of immediacy. Much of the child's cavorting through the wintry backyard landscape is told through Ohnari's avalanche of onomatopoetic interpretations. The writing is spare and confident, and Balistrieri's translation feels as poetic as it does enthusiastic. Hata's illustrations pull equal weight, depicting the youngster's tramp from their front yard into a neighboring empty lot and back home, where an adult waits. The white space serves purpose and keeps eyes on the protagonist and their play, while soft blue skies and sparse background create a feeling of solidity. These wonder-filled pages should inspire all varieties of wintertime listening.
Shelf Talker: The Voice of the Snowis an exuberant, child-centered picture book romp through the joyful sounds--and silence--of a bright snowy day."
—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
