After the Snowfall

Starred review from November 9, 2020
Intricate, realistic illustrations of wildlife, made fanciful by breathtaking, multihued washes of color against a black sky, distinguish this observational nature picture book. Spare prose follows a red fox peering from a den, perceiving other animals of the forest—a buck, a great horned owl, squirrels, mice, a moose, and more—and making note of their actions while journeying to the stream for a drink. “His thirst quenched, the fox heads home,” seeing more animals along the way (“rabbits hiding in a hollow log,” “chattering crows”) before rejoining his family: a vixen and kits. The quiet, documentary tone echoes the stillness denoted on the first page (“All is silent”), setting the stage for Lo’s vibrant watercolors. While the narrative may be slim, the art will undoubtedly merit repeat perusals, especially for young nature enthusiasts. Ages 4–9.