Pablo in the Snow

November 7, 2016
When Pablo the lamb ventures out into his first snowfall, he meets a slew of animals and has fun in ways he never imagined. As the snowfall becomes heavier and the sky turns menacing—a transition that Bonnet (Poppy’s Best Paper), working in ink and watercolor, orchestrates beautifully—Pablo’s more experienced friends know to head home. Poor Pablo is lost, but just when things look their worst, his parents appear to guide him to safety. Sloat (Berry Magic) creates several lovely moments as she describes the world through the eyes of a snow newbie: for example, Pablo is amazed that a snowball can be made small enough to throw and big enough to build a snowman from. This endearing naiveté turns a bit twee, however, when Pablo makes obvious announcements about what snow is “for”: “Snow is for fun!” he says as he sleds downhill. But Bonnet’s naïve drawings, rendered in simple ovoid shapes and clean ink lines, propel the story forward, and her animal cast is cute as a collective button. Ages 2–5. Agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary.

November 1, 2016
A lovable lamb ventures out into the snow, playing with friends and getting lost when night falls.Little Pablo is excited to see his first snowfall, which he perceives as "pieces of clouds" falling from the sky. He leaves his parents and their cozy barn to step out into the deep snow, where he enjoys sledding, a snowball fight, and building a snowman with his animal friends. When Pablo falls asleep next to the snowman, another snowstorm rolls in, leaving the lamb lost and afraid in the dark. In a satisfying conclusion, Pablo's parents find their son and escort him back to the safety of home. Charming watercolor illustrations make excellent use of white space as the snowy backgrounds, capturing the light-filled brilliance of a snowy afternoon and contrasting effectively with the slightly spooky setting of the nighttime scene with dark trees and swirling snow. One arresting double-page spread shows a petrified Pablo all alone in the snowy forest, but another spread showing the snowman is hard to understand visually as the snowman is split vertically in half by the gutter. Pablo's adventurous day encapsulates the traditional elements of a hero's journey: leaving home, experiencing new pleasures, facing danger, and finding the way back home again, wiser for the lessons learned in the wider world. A delightful and satisfying snowy-day story, with the subtle advantage of a main character with a Spanish name. (Picture book. 3-6)

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December 1, 2016

PreS-K-A sweet little tale about discovery and finding joy in nature, friends, and family. Pablo, a small sheep, wakes up to the delightful surprise of snow falling. Eager to explore, he heads out into the wintry land, meeting friends and learning about all of the different things snow can be used for. After Pablo sleds with Rabbit, has a snowball fight with Squirrel and Shrew, and makes a snowman with Fox, his friends head home, but Pablo stubbornly decides to stay out. As time passes, he realizes that his tracks have disappeared and he doesn't know the way home. Just as he starts to despair, he spots two snow mounds that are actually his mama and papa, who have been searching for their baby. They bring him back to the cozy barn, where Pablo decides that snow is fun but family is the best. Charming cartoon illustrations help set the mood. VERDICT A simple and heartwarming offering for any library, especially those seeking some new and refreshing seasonal stories.-Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 15, 2016
Preschool-K *Starred Review* Pablo the little lamb is surprised to awaken to pieces of white clouds falling from the sky. Father explains it's snow, but Pablo's never seen snow, so he heads out to experience the soft, powdery, fluffy stuff. Also outside are young Rabbit, Fox, Squirrel, and Shrew, each of whom shows Pablo a different aspect of what snow is all about: sledding, throwing, and for making a snowman. But after his friends head home, Pablo has a scary moment when he finds himself lost in the snow until his parents find him. The story's plot leans toward the familiar, but Sloat's pithy text, just the right length and cadence for young listeners, gives this playful adventure extra zest. The words pair perfectly with Bonnet's dynamicand adorablewatercolors. Simply drawn characters, outlined in india ink, are set against a flake-dappled background that goes darker as night falls. Little ones will relish a tale that has it all: new adventures, fun friendships, and the ultimate realization that while snow is for big adventures . . . the barn is warm and dry, and Mama and Poppa are very, very cozy. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)