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First Snow
It is cold for early winter. Snow begins to fall - first slowly - big flakes softly falling, melting fast. The discovery of winter's first snow is told here by Bernette Ford with illustrations by Sebastien Braun.
26 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Bernette G. Ford
41 books15 followersBernette G. Ford was an American author, editor and publisher. She worked as editor-in-chief at Grosset & Dunlap and later Scholastic Books, where she was vice-president of the Cartwheel imprint, which she helped launch. She was the co-author of the groundbreaking bestseller Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, along with the bestselling Ballet Kitty series, No More Diapers for Ducky, and First Snow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 20, 2019
This one was a bit of a flop for us, though I can’t put my finger on why. I loved the illustrations and the general plot was fine. But neither I nor the girls was all that into it.
December 12, 2017
A huge hit with my toddlers two mornings in a row. They loved showing me the moon, the fox, the bunnies, the snowman; plus there were lots of opportunities to to make movements with our hands and add sounds.
December 28, 2019
Very cute!
January 18, 2019
The first snow of the winter and the first snow for some young bunnies.
At night, they explore the snow-covered landscape and watch for predators. When kids come out to play, the bunnies are more adventurous.
Has a calm, quiet feel to it.
At night, they explore the snow-covered landscape and watch for predators. When kids come out to play, the bunnies are more adventurous.
Has a calm, quiet feel to it.
December 10, 2022
Though Sebastien Braun's illustrations are quite lovely, there's really nothing new or special to this story of young rabbit's experiencing winter for the first time. This honestly would have worked fine as a wordless book.
November 17, 2017
Lovely illustrations and the words are soft and perfect for a bedtime story.
November 11, 2017
Definitely like this one for a snow themed storytime. I enjoy the art style and, while not a thrilling plot, there's enough to keep the kids interested.
February 25, 2019
When the first snow falls in the meadow, a family of bunnies awake to explore. Sweet little story with beautiful illustrations.
February 29, 2020
Cute illustrations. Words are very poetic. Use a lot of figurative language throughout. Good verbs and adjectives.
April 10, 2023
This is a cute book. It would be great to read for the first snow of the year.
December 21, 2023
Adorable book about a rabbit who comes outside during the first snow fall. Illustrations are really cute and the story is sweet.
January 25, 2024
The illustrations are cute, and I really appreciated the vocabulary range of this otherwise simple story. It was very descriptive, and helped bring the tale to life.
December 25, 2014
Booklist starred (November 1, 2005 (Vol. 102, No. 5))
PreS. Ford and Braun get it just right in a book for young children who, like the characters here, are also experiencing their first snow. A gray, misty two-page spread marked by bare trees matches the first words: "It is dark--a winter's night. / The moon is bright, barely there behind a lazy haze of gray."On the next pages the palette turns a wintry purple as the snowflakes fall. Burrowed under the snow are Bunny and his siblings, nestled next to their mother, dreaming of grass. But Bunny awakes and goes outside to sniff the air, and the snow entices him. Then his brothers and sisters come out to explore the snow and "watch the nighttime."Squirrels gather pinecones; a wolf prowls. In the distance are houses: "Smoke and smells curl up and out"of the chimneys."Children play, and the bunnies follow suit, stumbling and tumbling in the snow. Ford's artful text is both fluid and evocative, yet it's right at a child's level in both word choice and premise. The rabbits have a stuffed-animal look, but the landscapes are so lovely that the whole book is elevated. Let little ones experience what it's like to be out in the wide, white expanse of a starry, starry night.
Horn Book (Spring 2006)
A family of rabbits enjoys the first snow of the season by playing in the meadow and observing the other animals and humans. The large impressionistic illustrations suit the simple text and convey the vastness of the cold scene, but the animals' cute facial expressions are sometimes jarring. The book sets a scene rather than telling a story.
Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2005)
Attempting to convey the beauty of the natural world and a heartwarming story about a bunny's first snow, this text has set its sights too high. The sweet story of a small bunny leaping about in the snow is rather lost amid the talk of the gray wolf, chipmunks and children building a snowman. Incongruously, "It is dark-a winter night. The moon is bright, barely there behind a lazy haze of gray. . . Now bunnies race across the meadow, leaving paw prints as they go. Hopping . . . stumbling . . . rolling . . . tumbling . . . playing in the cold first snow." The illustrations follow the curious, sometimes clashing, mix of the text. Adorable drawings of the bunnies and other wild creatures follow gorgeous nature scenes suitable for framing. While the bunnies' facial expressions are rather static, their body language speaks volumes as they cavort about and enjoy the snow. An interesting combination of nature and picture book, neither of which truly shines in their competition. (Picture book. 4-8)
School Library Journal (September 1, 2005)
PreS-Gr 2-This appealing story looks at the arrival of a new season through the eyes of a bunny and his siblings as they venture out during the first snowfall of winter. Ford's text has a poetic rhythm that emphasizes the senses as the rabbits explore their wintry world. The book works well for both reading aloud and as a story that beginning readers will be able to tackle independently. The large text and charming visual clues will win many fans. Braun's illustrations, especially of the bouncing bunnies with their flopping ears, are particularly engaging and complement the story wonderfully. The palette consisting of blues and whites allows the animals and the snowy meadow to shine under the light of a full moon. Leave room on your shelves and in your next winter-themed storyhour for First Snow.-Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
PreS. Ford and Braun get it just right in a book for young children who, like the characters here, are also experiencing their first snow. A gray, misty two-page spread marked by bare trees matches the first words: "It is dark--a winter's night. / The moon is bright, barely there behind a lazy haze of gray."On the next pages the palette turns a wintry purple as the snowflakes fall. Burrowed under the snow are Bunny and his siblings, nestled next to their mother, dreaming of grass. But Bunny awakes and goes outside to sniff the air, and the snow entices him. Then his brothers and sisters come out to explore the snow and "watch the nighttime."Squirrels gather pinecones; a wolf prowls. In the distance are houses: "Smoke and smells curl up and out"of the chimneys."Children play, and the bunnies follow suit, stumbling and tumbling in the snow. Ford's artful text is both fluid and evocative, yet it's right at a child's level in both word choice and premise. The rabbits have a stuffed-animal look, but the landscapes are so lovely that the whole book is elevated. Let little ones experience what it's like to be out in the wide, white expanse of a starry, starry night.
Horn Book (Spring 2006)
A family of rabbits enjoys the first snow of the season by playing in the meadow and observing the other animals and humans. The large impressionistic illustrations suit the simple text and convey the vastness of the cold scene, but the animals' cute facial expressions are sometimes jarring. The book sets a scene rather than telling a story.
Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2005)
Attempting to convey the beauty of the natural world and a heartwarming story about a bunny's first snow, this text has set its sights too high. The sweet story of a small bunny leaping about in the snow is rather lost amid the talk of the gray wolf, chipmunks and children building a snowman. Incongruously, "It is dark-a winter night. The moon is bright, barely there behind a lazy haze of gray. . . Now bunnies race across the meadow, leaving paw prints as they go. Hopping . . . stumbling . . . rolling . . . tumbling . . . playing in the cold first snow." The illustrations follow the curious, sometimes clashing, mix of the text. Adorable drawings of the bunnies and other wild creatures follow gorgeous nature scenes suitable for framing. While the bunnies' facial expressions are rather static, their body language speaks volumes as they cavort about and enjoy the snow. An interesting combination of nature and picture book, neither of which truly shines in their competition. (Picture book. 4-8)
School Library Journal (September 1, 2005)
PreS-Gr 2-This appealing story looks at the arrival of a new season through the eyes of a bunny and his siblings as they venture out during the first snowfall of winter. Ford's text has a poetic rhythm that emphasizes the senses as the rabbits explore their wintry world. The book works well for both reading aloud and as a story that beginning readers will be able to tackle independently. The large text and charming visual clues will win many fans. Braun's illustrations, especially of the bouncing bunnies with their flopping ears, are particularly engaging and complement the story wonderfully. The palette consisting of blues and whites allows the animals and the snowy meadow to shine under the light of a full moon. Leave room on your shelves and in your next winter-themed storyhour for First Snow.-Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2014
My five-year-old son picked this book out from the library this week. This morning, we had a snow fall. (Yes, I did plan ahead.)
The nice thing about this book was that it was winter, but not holiday related. There are not too many like that.
The story was OK, and wanted to be well-told, but it wasn't quite. The words did not trip off of my tongue. In fact, more often than not, the words tripped my tongue. I'm not sure why. When you read it, not out loud, the text does not seem very tricky, but when I read it out loud, it felt like reading tongue-twisters and not near-poetry.
The artwork is very sweet and simple, and probably deserves better text.
The nice thing about this book was that it was winter, but not holiday related. There are not too many like that.
The story was OK, and wanted to be well-told, but it wasn't quite. The words did not trip off of my tongue. In fact, more often than not, the words tripped my tongue. I'm not sure why. When you read it, not out loud, the text does not seem very tricky, but when I read it out loud, it felt like reading tongue-twisters and not near-poetry.
The artwork is very sweet and simple, and probably deserves better text.
September 20, 2015
This is one of my toddler daughter's favorite books in the Reading Rainbow Skybrary. The in-app narration is solid, but muting that and reading aloud on our own is great too. The animations sprinkled throughout the book help bring the story to life without being too distracting. I can't comment on the physical book.
December 8, 2010
Very sweet book decribing a young bunny leaving his family lair to explore and see who else is enjoying the first snow of winter. Illustrations are colored chalk which successfully soften the appearance of the forest animals and quietness of a snowy evening scenery.
December 2, 2013
I thought this story was sweet and might be good to read during the beginning of winter. It's not my favorite book just because I think it might be a little boring unless you have the excitement of fresh snow or are just missing snow.
February 21, 2015
This is a sweet book about bunnies exploring the first snow in their meadow. Reading this book during the winter and having an activity involving bunnies or snow lessons would be perfect with is book. The illustrations are painted and beautiful.
March 15, 2023
It was... OK. Cute but maybe just average? H. liked it; and it was a nice winter-themed book without having to deal also with Xmas overtones etc.
January 25, 2011
Just OK--the poetry format didn't lend itself well to this book and there wasn't a good plot in my opinion.
January 6, 2013
Beautiful. Ignore the illustrations and feel the verse. Can't wait to read this to my kindergarten class.
May 17, 2013
Bunnies and snow. Can't beat.
January 29, 2014
Quiet, gentle, and beautiful. Perfect for reading before bed when you're snug inside on a cold winter's night.
February 5, 2014
I loved the little bunnies (granted, I love all little bunnies). They are super cute and it's fun to see them enjoying the first snow.
Read
February 15, 2014Cute book about bunnies and their first snow fall. You could relate it to a winters first snowfall and what children did.
Read
February 23, 2014I just realized pretty much every snow-themed picture book I just added stars a bunny. Weird.
November 14, 2014
This one has worked great for me in storytime! Large pages make it easy to see details like tree branches and foxes. Cozy feeling. Toddlers love it.
May 20, 2015
We, my son and I, liked it, but it's not a book we're egger to add to our book shelf.
It's about some bunnies who experience snow for the first time.
It's about some bunnies who experience snow for the first time.
November 13, 2015
Nice, simple story with bunnies. a wolf was mentioned once and my 2 year old spent the rest of the book howling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews