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Sound of Snow Falling
A paint and paper documentary, observing great horned owls in their natural habitat.
Sound of Snow Falling is a graphic novel done in a poetic documentary mode. In this unique work, the reader becomes a voyeur of the natural world, following a great horned owl family through the dead of winter. Extensively researched and expressively painted, Sound of Snow Falling is a triumph of the comics form.
Sound of Snow Falling is a graphic novel done in a poetic documentary mode. In this unique work, the reader becomes a voyeur of the natural world, following a great horned owl family through the dead of winter. Extensively researched and expressively painted, Sound of Snow Falling is a triumph of the comics form.
104 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 11, 2018
Who speaks for nocturnal animals, and in this case, particularly birds? Ornithologists, clearly, using scientific methods. But as ornithologist James Duncan acknowledges, science rarely makes one feel. Maggie Umber, "ecologically accurate," as Duncan assures you, in her three-color paintings focused on two Great Horned Owls that bring three chicks into the world, also speaks--in a wordless graphic novel--for nocturnal animals, and makes you feel, and care. The owls fly rather silently, and the night world they inhabit is largely silent, so a wordless tale makes sense, but silence in Umber's telling also forces one to look closely to understand what is going on, to see the owls at night, and to look again, look more closely. In a loud world, in the occasion of the sixth extinction on the planet Earth, this seems necessary. And beautiful.
YuTube video of Maggie Umber drawing an owl!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHiTd...
YuTube video of Maggie Umber drawing an owl!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHiTd...
March 6, 2018
*Edit* I give it a second read and I love it's so magical, every page it just gasp, it's a very appealing experience. Now I recommend it to every one.
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It's a beautiful book, I'm not a fan of nature so it's not for me, but it's a very interesting twist on comics, if you like nature you are going to love it.
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It's a beautiful book, I'm not a fan of nature so it's not for me, but it's a very interesting twist on comics, if you like nature you are going to love it.
August 25, 2017
A masterpiece.
February 17, 2018
As a scientific study - 5 stars. As an arts piece - 4 stars. As a graphic novel - 2 stars.
I think this should maybe be marketed more as art installation, and less as graphic novel. There were a few issues I have with this as the latter.
The most significant was the panel work. There are rules to panel work that make up graphic novels and comic books. Some people only know the rules intrinsically, but I suspect anyone will have moments of confusion on how to read this book. You can't make your own rules up. And if you do, you need to keep them consistent throughout the book. There were at least three page pairings where the panel work altered direction (continuing right when it should have gone below). This was a massive failing in my opinion.
The second problem comes from the art. I think most people will think it beautiful and would be proud to display it on their walls. This is where it should have been (and why I think it should have been marketed as installation instead of graphic novel). Umber takes the normal expectations of art and puts it in a new context.
Umber's art in this work uses an expressionistic style in muted and dark hues to express the nocturnal environment of her owls (and other creatures). Impressionistic works (at least historically) are meant to be viewed at a distance. You get an impression of the image through the atmospheric lens. But here, they are printed on tiny pages in a tiny book that is intended to be read only inches away from your eyes. The impressionistic effect is gone, leaving the illustrations incredibly difficult to decipher.
The story itself was also confusing. But I believe that amounts to confusing panel work and indecipherable illustrations.
If this were marketed as a scientific study. It might get top marks. It does have this feeling of sitting in the bush watching animals do their regular animal behavior. You get glimpses of activity, but a very incomplete picture.
Or, if this were marketed as an art piece (especially as installation art) I would rate this much higher.
But, this was marketed to me as a graphic novel. And as a graphic novel it just doesn't work.
I think this should maybe be marketed more as art installation, and less as graphic novel. There were a few issues I have with this as the latter.
The most significant was the panel work. There are rules to panel work that make up graphic novels and comic books. Some people only know the rules intrinsically, but I suspect anyone will have moments of confusion on how to read this book. You can't make your own rules up. And if you do, you need to keep them consistent throughout the book. There were at least three page pairings where the panel work altered direction (continuing right when it should have gone below). This was a massive failing in my opinion.
The second problem comes from the art. I think most people will think it beautiful and would be proud to display it on their walls. This is where it should have been (and why I think it should have been marketed as installation instead of graphic novel). Umber takes the normal expectations of art and puts it in a new context.
Umber's art in this work uses an expressionistic style in muted and dark hues to express the nocturnal environment of her owls (and other creatures). Impressionistic works (at least historically) are meant to be viewed at a distance. You get an impression of the image through the atmospheric lens. But here, they are printed on tiny pages in a tiny book that is intended to be read only inches away from your eyes. The impressionistic effect is gone, leaving the illustrations incredibly difficult to decipher.
The story itself was also confusing. But I believe that amounts to confusing panel work and indecipherable illustrations.
If this were marketed as a scientific study. It might get top marks. It does have this feeling of sitting in the bush watching animals do their regular animal behavior. You get glimpses of activity, but a very incomplete picture.
Or, if this were marketed as an art piece (especially as installation art) I would rate this much higher.
But, this was marketed to me as a graphic novel. And as a graphic novel it just doesn't work.
March 16, 2018
Even better than her previous work, Time Capsule, Maggie Umber captures the sublime beauty of the nature while expanding the grammar of comics: Rhythm (thus poetry) of layouts & the new genre of Poetry-documentary.
April 2, 2022
it's pretty !!!
October 19, 2017
Magical.
April 22, 2018
This book was gorgeous and I love birds.
Even if you don’t love birds it is probably still gorgeous.
Even if you don’t love birds it is probably still gorgeous.
August 4, 2021
Maggie Umber's Sound of Snow Falling is a stunning work of art - based in science, rendered in gorgeous paintings, poetic in its wordless storytelling, resonant in its silent observation. It is a graphic novel about a family of Great Horned Owls - no text, just images. The nocturnal setting comes alive, and the perspective of the beautiful creatures living their lives in a wooded habitat - co-existing, predator, prey - is explored from vantage points that do not disturb the natural order of things. As the viewer of the book, we are getting to witness nature unfold in the quiet of a deep, dark night - singular moments, as well as expansive life cycles. It's like studying stars silently after an epiphany, and feeling connected to who you are at that singular moment and all the pulsing, humming, stirring life in the immediate surroundings of where you stand, seen (maybe, fleetingly) and unseen. Maggie Umber is an extremely talented artist with a very unique way of telling stories through her paintings. I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to keep an eye out for her future projects.
Haiku review:
Down comes the snow
a cosmos in the silence
owls fly through our night
Haiku review:
Down comes the snow
a cosmos in the silence
owls fly through our night
June 6, 2018
This was so disappointing. When I saw the title and premise for this work, I was excited - an illustrated documentary about owls! - but the presentation and execution were lacking.
The biggest flaw is how Umber’s art is packaged. This would have benefited from a bigger trim size. Laura’s review explains why this is much better and more succinctly than I ever could, so I would suggest giving her review a read. Her comments on the style of Umber’s work are spot on as well - this is a style of painting that works much better when viewed from a distance. When read up close and personal, it was very difficult for me to discern what I was even looking at! The lack of contrast between the colours (which I imagine was done purposefully to emulate the nocturnal setting) only exacerbated this.
All that being said, I do think Umber’s art is beautiful - I just don’t think this was the best way to display her talents.
The biggest flaw is how Umber’s art is packaged. This would have benefited from a bigger trim size. Laura’s review explains why this is much better and more succinctly than I ever could, so I would suggest giving her review a read. Her comments on the style of Umber’s work are spot on as well - this is a style of painting that works much better when viewed from a distance. When read up close and personal, it was very difficult for me to discern what I was even looking at! The lack of contrast between the colours (which I imagine was done purposefully to emulate the nocturnal setting) only exacerbated this.
All that being said, I do think Umber’s art is beautiful - I just don’t think this was the best way to display her talents.
November 20, 2018
A refreshing read if you live in a big, loud city. This is a simple and quiet book where we observe owls in their natural habitat living their daily lives. It’s a stunning book where art meets documentary.
July 10, 2017
Maggie Umber is a wonderful artist. This silent tale of a pair of horned owls in the woods is an excellent showcase for her spellbinding sequential paintings.
January 20, 2025
A beautiful little book. Sound of Snow Falling is best described as a realistic observation of a family of Great Horned Owls, providing a mesmerizing experience only possible in the medium of comic books. Maggie Umber’s work elicited in me a deep sense of tranquility all the while sticking closely to scientific fact. If you want to inspire people to care about the natural world, books like this is a good place to start.
See more of Umber’s work at her website: https://maggieumber.com
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[Image: Book Cover]
Citation:
Umber, M. (2017). Sound of Snow Falling. 2dcloud.
Title: Sound of Snow Falling
Author(s): Maggie Umber
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction - Graphic novel
Page count: 104 pages
Date(s) read: 1/19/25
Book #13 in 2025
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November 27, 2017
A wordless story about two great horned owls hatching and raising young. Because owls are nocturnal, the artwork is in dim focus, as if we were actually attempting to observe wildlife. Although we probably cannot see the world as owls do, leaving words behind is an interesting way to enter a story that doesn't have any humans in it.
July 19, 2017
This wordless (sort of-the introduction is insightful) tale/poem about a family of owls is gorgeous and thoughtful. This meditation had me slow down to pay attention to every detail, every color. I cannot recommend Ms. Umber's books enough, but this one should be in every collection.
May 9, 2022
Not really my kind of book. Just pictures of nature scenes with no words. It leaves a lot of interpretation to the imagination, so if that's what you like, then sure! You might like this book!
To the others who require a bit more context to images...this book was kinda eh.
To the others who require a bit more context to images...this book was kinda eh.
February 4, 2023
A beautifully illustrated book, I felt the lack of text captured the experience of observing these animals in the wild. It really reminded me of growing up on a farm and getting glimpses of wildlife on a quiet winter day
March 21, 2025
such mesmerizing illustrations - you can get lost in each page! the book feels like slowly sipping a warm cup of earl gray on a Saturday evening in January, as you sit in a big armchair and gaze outside the bedroom window.
January 27, 2018
unique, gorgeous, and political and aspirational, in capturing some of what we are missing as the natural world is in a moment of mass extinction.
March 7, 2020
Really beautiful. (But very dark, so have a lamp on or read during the day. May be a bit of a problem for people with strong eyesight issues.)
August 20, 2020
A Thoreauvian essay in paintings of the life of Giant Horned Owls and their environment.
June 9, 2022
This book was like being in a forest. It’s dusk and the colors are muted and velvety. The snow is falling and the air smells cold and piney. I adored this book.
January 28, 2025
idk why the english version isnt on here but it doesnt matter bc this graphic novel with no text about great horned owls made me cry
April 9, 2025
So cool that Maggie used people's owl camera footage to create a beautiful science book
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December 4, 2017741.5973 U48s 2017
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews