Snowy
Night
by Tilde Michels, illustrated by Reinhard Michl (Starfish Bay Children’s Books)
PB RRP $12.99
ISBN 9780994100221
Reviewed by Leigh Roswen
Snowy Night written by Tilde Michels and
illustrated by Reinhard Michl is a picture book told in verse.
Peter lives in a cottage near the
forest. One stormy night a rabbit, then a fox and finally a bear come knocking
on his door seeking shelter. Can all these natural enemies spend a peaceful
night together? And who should they fear the most? This is a tale of kindness
and cooperation with a thoughtful twist at the end.
This is not simply a rhyming picture
book it is a verse story with over 20 stanzas of 2-10 lines each. It would be a
joy to read aloud to 4 to 8 year olds. The text is not so suited to independent
reading due to the long word count and the fluency required to keep the rhythm
flowing. The story is clear and the concepts not difficult, so it is an ideal
text to introduce a child to poetry.
Perhaps there are times the rhyme is a
bit clunky but this can be forgiven because the verse never fails to move the
clever plot along. In the hands of a good reader children will not notice this
at all. There are also parts when the verse is beautiful and bouncy and would
be a delight to read aloud:
Meanwhile
the snowflakes keep on tumbling,
The
wind keeps howling, roaring, rumbling,
The
strongest trees are bending, breaking,
The
little house is shivering, shaking.
The drawn illustrations in this book are
a standout and complement the story on every page. The soft textures of fur and
cloth and the facial expressions of each character are depicted beautifully.
The middle spread of Peter and all the animals asleep in the house is just
gorgeous.
This is a cosy bedtime book, like a
lullaby, it is meant for settling and snuggling. It also has a message about
cooperation in times of need, about honesty and human responsibility.
Reviewer website: www.leighroswen.com
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