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9th out of 129 books
—
81 voters
Katy and the Big Snow
Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.
In 2009, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Virginia Lee Burton's birth.Aspart of this celebration a glitter-cover edition of Katy and the Big Snow, complete with snowy stickers,has been created. In this endu...more
In 2009, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Virginia Lee Burton's birth.Aspart of this celebration a glitter-cover edition of Katy and the Big Snow, complete with snowy stickers,has been created. In this endu...more
Paperback, 40 pages
Published
April 3rd 1974
by Sandpiper
(first published 1971)
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What a gift Virginia Lee Burton was to the world. Her warm, sincere, hopeful style of writing, even as the characters in her stories come upon hard times and their eventual success is anything but guaranteed, is like nothing else I've ever read. Virginia Lee Burton's characters are long-suffering and gentle, enthusiastic and generous, and in Katy and the Big Snow, we are introduced to an unforgettably doughty protagonist willing to put everything she has on the line to help friends in need. If...more
I debated on whether I wanted to give a 4 stars or 5 stars...I was very close to a 5 star because I love this book. I live in snow country where 2 feet of snow on the ground is a normal winter. Heavy snowfall is the norm and the Katy's of the world keep my town and state moving. The story is fantastic, and the reason I didn't give it 5 stars, is simply the pictures are dark and old, and old fashioned looking but honestly that didn't even really bother me. But this book was printed in 1943, durin...more
One of the only things I've ever found with Katy spelled with a "y". Who cares if I'm a snow plow? I'm a snow plow who saves the day!
After reading "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" and "The Little House," I jumped at the chance to read another of Virginia Lee Burton's books. This book was a cute story about Katy, a tractor who transform into a bulldozer, as well as a snow plow. One day, there is a huge snow storm in the city of Geopolis, where Katy lives and works, and she must save the day. While the story dragged on for awhile as Katy rescued literally everyone in the town, Burton's detailed illustration more than make u...more
We read this as a part of our "Five in a Row" curriculum and my six year old found it very boring. The four-year-old (at the time) twins really enjoyed it. The illustrations are engaging because Burton places detailed drawings and captions in the margins of the book. There is also an interesting map in the center of the book which contains a key along the margins and many numbers in the map to match up with the key. This book would go well with a map unit for younger children. All in all, the st...more
the edition i have comes w/a cd of the book being read. liked it much more hearing it than i would have reading it. i don't notice art, forcing me to slow to the reader's pace got me to notice the details virginia lee burton put in the book. and burton placed the words on the page in a certain style, making even the typography artistic and guiding the story to the pace she wants it read. something else, give the big tractor a girl's name makes this quite empowering for girls as well as being a b...more
Dec 31, 2010
Relyn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teachers, parents, kids
Recommended to Relyn by:
It's a childhood favorite.
Shelves:
2010-reread,
lawsonland
Oh, I am so glad to have reread this book. I hadn't read it in years and it was wonderful. The maps were wonderful and so engaging. The details would appeal to boys and girls. The story is simple and easily accessible. But, the best part about this book is the plans I have for it. I can't wait to use it to teach a few writing mini-lessons. Her use of word placement on the page and in conjunction with pictures will be a great example to my own little book-makers. Can't wait!
Feb 01, 2011
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
This is a fun story about a tractor who saved the day after a big snow. The illustrations are very similar to those from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and we enjoyed following Katy's progress as she worked her way through the town. We loved looking at the detailed map of the town and finding all the different locations.
I think Virginia Lee Burton is wonderful. Long-winded, but wonderful. I like the ridiculous level of illustration detail in this book (the map of the town is really out-of-control detailed and the story of the humanized snow plow that just keeps going even though she's tired and she doesn't think she can do it. File this under "I think I can" books. Ages 4-7.
Feb 05, 2013
Jess
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
K-2, Burtin fans
Shelves:
13,
picture-books
Katy's strong. The illustrations are detailed, particular, and great. Sometimes you just want to live in a Virginia Lee Burton book.
Remember when Ramona was in K and all the kids want to know when Mike Mulligan went to the bathroom? My classes were very curious about why she didn't run out of gas. Not the same, but kind of sweet anyway.
Remember when Ramona was in K and all the kids want to know when Mike Mulligan went to the bathroom? My classes were very curious about why she didn't run out of gas. Not the same, but kind of sweet anyway.
I think this book is so sweet and I love how the author gave Katy life. She is a little snow plow that is so full of life. Its a great book for talking about construction (which is why we read it in class) but it is also great to talk about how rewarding hard work can be. It is great and I truly enjoyed it.
This is a cute story that shows the value of perseverance and service to others. I particularly enjoy the map on pages 6 & 7 which labels all the points of interest in the city. This would be a good book to use during a lesson on reading and creating maps. Also, throughout the book a map compass is used to give the direction that Katy is plowing.
This would be a great book to introduce the seasons and to concentrate on winter in general. The book could be great for a group of second graders. The books gives the many elements that one might see in the winter and why those things would be seen during the winter.
A big tractor saves the city after a bad snowstorm. Even though the tractor began to grow weary from such a big job, she kept on going until the job was done. This book could be used to teach students about determination and that they should never give up.
Read this to my son for bed time. We are studying perseverance this week in school so we picked out this book. I liked this book just as much as "Mike Mulligan". The pictures are great and the story is positive. Good read for 4 year old boys.
Just okay for me, but my little boy loved reading about the snow plow (Katy) that saves the day. The best part is the illustrations, including a full map of the city where you can track Katy's route through the city as she helps out.
My students love this one: the storm, the little map, the brave and powerful plow. The only aspect of the story that makes this a lesser tale than Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel is that we know nothing about the driver.
Great book for kids. Story keeps them interested and teaches a great lesson about helping others even when the situation is hard. The illustrations are also very good with lots of "stuff" for the young person to look at.
This story of Katy a brave, strong tractor who bulldozes in the summer and snow plows in the winter didn't do all that much for me. I can see that some young boys would just love it- detailed drawings, and lots of trucks.
Katy is about a tractor that helps her town through the summer and the winter. This is an older book with very detailed illustrations and a good moral, but I doubt that it would capture the interest of students.
I love this book...classic read aloud that still appeals to children in magical ways. It has the big snowstorm, big vehicles, a hero, a city map...what more could you ask for in kindergarten!
I was just wishing that I had this book for preschool today, so I thought I'd recommend it to you all. Taylor and Ethan have both loved it. It's so simple, and yet so fascinating. Ages 3 and up :)
My seven-year-old son loved this book. He refused to let it be returned to the library after a few readings. I prefer The Little House to this one, but this is sweet too.
that katy plowd the snow out of the street for the cars and then she was tired of all of the wrk and then she wet home
GR Level: L
Elementary: E BUR
When it snows who will make sure that the city can still function? Katy, the snow plow, of course!
Elementary: E BUR
When it snows who will make sure that the city can still function? Katy, the snow plow, of course!
The kiddo found this a bit boring. I have to admit that I did, too. The illustrations are detailed and you can spend time looking at them to see what little things you can point out, but the story just didn't grab us. We much prefer The Little Engine That Could.
My dad loved reading me this book because I share the same name as the main character. It has great illustrations and such a great plot. Virginia Lee Burton is a wonderful author.
My mom left this one out and I just picked it up. She really liked it for teaching, but I did not. It was a little too young and too easy for me.
This book was mediocre in my opinion. Overall, the story had a good moral to it, but the illustrations lacked luster and would probably not draw children in.
A fun book that explores being helpful! Great for guided reading, and would be perfect to use during the winter!
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Virginia Lee Burton was an American illustrator and children's book author. Burton produced seven self-illustrated children's books. She married Boston Museum school sculptor, George Demetrios, with whom she had two sons and lived in Folly Cove, Gloucester. She died at 59.
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