When It Starts to Snow by Phillis Gershator

Illustrated by Martin Matje. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1998.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 0-8050-5404-9.

The sky is gloomy gray and the flakes begin to fall.

"What if it starts to snow?
What do you do?
Where do you go?"

This recurring question permeates the story as each animal of farm and field answers in turn:

"'I wear a new coat,' says the stoat,
'a king from head to toe.'
White winter fur
When it starts to snow."

"Mole in a tunnel.
Rabbit in a hole.
Wolf in a den.
Chipmunk in a burrow."

The animals are all tucked away, as there is:

"Snow on the roof.
Snow on the ground.
Brand new snow
coming down,
coming down."

The boy who poses the question finds that he can't sleep as the animals do, "when the snow wants to play."

This little story doesn't always scan perfectly, but it sweetly communicates and serves to introduce small children to the changes which take place in the animal kingdom during winter. Matje's overcast skies and murky colors reflect the quietness and dimness of the gentle snowstorm. This works as an add-on to a toddler or preschool story hour about winter.

Publishers Weekly Starred Review