Toby and the Snowflakes

November 1, 2004
Toby's best friend has moved away, leaving him in a funk as bleak as the winter day. But when Toby idly says "Hello" to a snowflake, the snowflake answers back—and as Cordell (The Gorillas of Gill Park
) subtly shifts the winter light from grey to warm lavenders and blues, the boy finds himself literally surrounded by tiny, amiable snowflake companions. They make interesting conversation ("Some tell jokes. Other talk about movies they have seen"), compliment his snow angel-making and collaborate with him on an impressive snowman. Cordell makes intelligent use of white space as he demonstrates the simple pleasures to be found in winter pastimes. The sun brings about the departure of Toby's crystallized comrades but just as the hero's mood threatens to turn south again, a new boy appears in the front yard, ready to make friends. Halpern, making her debut, conveys a genial directness. But her text feels undisciplined; the story seems to stretch in order to tie Toby's loneliness and new friendships to a bigger statement about the rhythms of nature. Still, the emotional understatement of Cordell's austere ink-and-watercolor pictures, combined with his keen sense of composition, gives Toby's struggle texture and pacing. Ages 4-8.

October 1, 2004
PreS-K -When his friend moves away, Toby is lonely and bored. As snow begins to fall, he makes friends with the snowflakes, creating snow angels and building snowmen, until the snow finally melts. When the saddened youngster asks why everyone is leaving, one snowflake tells him, "We all have to go some time." Then a new boy moves in down the street, and Toby has a new pal. The spare cartoon-style illustrations, done in pen and ink with watercolor, reveal the action. Soft, muted colors and expansive white spaces add to the lonely feeling expressed in the story and create interest. The narrative has a natural flow, told in clear language. The dialogue between Toby and the snowflakes is somewhat stilted, and the satisfactory ending is predictable, yet young children will enjoy the simplicity of the story.-Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.