Big Snow by Jonathan Bean. Children's Picture Book.Farrar Straus Giroux, 2013.
While the illustrations are just lovely, the story will touch your heart. David, a small boy, waits for snow. Everything he does only makes him want to check the weather. The fine white flour when he helps Mom make cookies, the white fluffy suds when he helps Mom clean the bathrub, the white and cool clean sheets that they put on his bed all drive David to the doors and windows. Each time he checks for snow, there is a little more. When Mom tells him that it might be a big snow, he curls up in the big armchair and drifts off himself to dream of snow outside and inside! Only Dad's stomping arrival home wakes him. The little family put on coats, scarves, hats, and mittens and go out into the BIG snow. The last page has a little added illustration of them back inside with drippy winter clothes, eating those cookies and drinking from mugs of warmth.
Several double-page illustrations portray what's going on outside. The view is not from David's own house, but shows his backyard and neighborhood. The two story houses, water tower, and street could be anywhere USA. The lovely chocolate colored family clean, bake, and are involved lovingly with each other.
What a lovely tribute to families! Big Snow is simple, childlike, realistic, and just plain fun. You'll read this one over and over as you wait for winter at your own house.
