White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt

The last image of the book is of the children watching the first robin who tells them that spring has really come. In time though, the snow drifts away and spring is coming again. Snow means the children can make snowmen, snow houses, and snow forts before throwing snowball fights. Snow means the policeman gets to soak his feet in hot water as his wife rubs mustard plaster into his chest (don't ask). Snow means new boots for the postman and extra shoveling for the farmer.

'Then, just when no one was looking, it came'. Heck, even the rabbits and the children are waiting for it to happen. As the sky looms dark and heavy with unfallen snow, a postman, a farmer, and a policeman and his wife all decide in their own separate ways that flakes are imminent. In this story, author Tresselt gives us several different impressions and reactions to the coming of wintertide. I can't help but think new illustrations would suit this puppy perfectly. But honestly, let's look at it again in a clear light. I know many of you remember this book from your youth and I know many more would beat me with sticks for suggesting anything at all be changed about this wonderful tale. Author Alvin Tresselt's words are some of the most beautiful you'll read, which makes it that much more of a pity that the illustrator on this book was Roger Duvoisin. I've rarely read a picture book that so beautifully captures the feeling you get when the world is first blanketed in a thick covering of fluffy white snow. This is a Caldecott winning book that is a fabulous read. By and large, it's a dangerous practice that should be avoided. Usually, I think re-illustrating old classics is a bad idea. For example, illustrator David McPhail (for reasons I don't even want to contemplate) thought it might be a good idea to reillustrate Beatrix Potter's, 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'.

This isn't to say this practice isn't done from time to time. Which is to say, they look at you like you're insane. I've noticed that if you tell children's literature professionals that you think it would be a good idea to take old picture books and liven them up with brand new illustrations by contemporary illustrators, they look at you like you've just suggested burning the collected works of Dr. It'll capture your attention and allow me to get something off my chest.

wiki-commons:Special:FilePath/CM_white_snow.I think I shall begin this review by saying something sacrilegious.

wiki-commons:Special:FilePath/CM_white_snow.jpg?width=300.

Released by, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1948.

White Snow, Bright Snow is a 1947 book written by Alvin Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin.

White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt