Geraldine's Big Snow

by Holly Keller

The irresistible Geraldine is back and impatient for the snow. "Little ones who have awaited their own snowstorms will appreciate Geraldine's anticipation as well as the story's wry humor....An enticing story hour choice."--Booklist.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

24 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Holly Keller is an American author and illustrator of children’s books, celebrated for her warm storytelling and distinctive minimalist cartoon style, often featuring animal protagonists. A lifelong reader and artist, she studied history before turning to illustration, encouraged by a design professor to pursue picture books. Her debut publications introduced a body of work known for gentle humor and emotional insight. Keller’s stories frequently explore themes such as adoption, belonging, friendship, sibling bonds, and coping with loss, offering young readers reassurance alongside entertainment. In addition to writing and illustrating her own titles, she has created artwork for texts by other children’s authors. Her books have received numerous honors and remain widely appreciated for their clarity, empathy, and timeless appeal.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations very much. The author's description of the snowfall was poetic and filled with peace.

[Quincy Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite childhood book! I will always love it! As a kid, my sister and I always went way over the top hoping for snow days (wearing pajamas inside out, throwing cups of water over our heads outside, sleeping with spoons under our pillows, trying to cross our fingers and toes overnight by using rubber bands until our mom intervened and explained how we were cutting off our blood circulation..) so yep, you can see how I would love this book! 😂

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young children are often impatient when they are looking forward to an event and without a good sense of time, it is difficult to wait. Geraldine's Big Snow is a delightful book about a girl that is looking forward to a snow storm that the weather man said was coming. Young children relate to the story and enjoy how the snow finally came in the end. They like the illustrations that match the story. I have owned Geraldine's Big Snow in my classroom library for years and all of my classes have enjoyed this fun story.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's exciting to watch for the first really big snowfall of the season, especially for young children. Geraldine has heard her parents talking about the coming snow, she's heard it on the radio, and she's talked to her neighbors who are preparing for it. But when she watches out the window for it, it seems like it's never going to arrive. This is definitely a fun one to share with little kids during the beginning of winter, when everyone is still excited about the snow!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geraldine eagerly anticipates the predicted snow, while adults around her prepare. This is a place that regularly gets snow as there are snow plows, etc.

Strangely, the person who runs to the grocery store has gotten apples. Around here, the standard is toilet paper, milk, and bread, but this isn't an area that gets frequent large snows.

[Shannon]

It's coming, it's coming, it's coming! Lovely. Great descriptions of snowfall, great encouragement to be patient and nice adults being kind to a child. I especially love her neighbor reading a big stack of books during the snowfall. This is one of our favorite seasonal reads.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captures the excitement of a child waiting for the flakes to fall.

[Lee Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and adorable, with some cool art. I just can't relate because I hate winter lolol. 3/5 stars.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geraldine is very excited and very impatient for the snow! All the adults are preparing for the storm in different ways, and the snow finally comes overnight.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will be sending this to a friend who shares her name with the author. A story about longing, preparation, waiting, and fulfillment.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Geraldine and I relate so much to this book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love snow just like Geraldine! I love to sled too! This is a really cute story with simple but lovely illustrations that will bring smiles to younger kids and adults too!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you describe a book as warm and cozy. This is the book right here. Cute book and lovely story.

[Jenna Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone's getting ready for the big snowstorm

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book

[Chris Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not get a lot of love from my son.

[Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story, most kids have they themselves waited for that first big snow of the season.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geraldine got out her new sled and her winter boots because she was waiting and watching for a forecasted snowstorm to come. Her neighbours were getting ready too, with apples for baking pies, books to read, and a snowplow to clear the snow. Nicely illustrated.

[Hanna Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute. Definitely saw a lot of my six year old daughter's repetitive questioning in anticipation of an event in the character of Geraldine. ❄️ 🌨️

[Maya Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cheerful book. The book begins: "Geraldine brought her new sled down from the attic and put her boots near the door. 'I'm ready.' she said." What we have is an anxious little pig awaiting the first snow fall of the season. Her mom tells her it's much easier waiting if you don't sit and watch, but Geraldine is too excited. She asks her mom to tell her again what the weather man said about a the snow storm coming and she asks her mom to show her how much a foot of snow is.

She walks around the neighborhood waiting for the snow and bumps into all her neighbors who all talk about what to do when stuck in the snow like reading books, baking pies, and feeding the birds because they get hungry in the snow.

Altogether a great read and would be wonderful in the fall when kids are waiting for the snow season to start and funny in the late stages of winter to remind kids about some of the fun of snow. Good for teaching recall and retelling.

[Aileen Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emily was very young, we would regularly read another Geraldine book called Geraldine's Blanket. It was one of her favorites and she always requested that I read it with the voice. The voice happened to be my version of a southern accent. Not very good I'm afraid, but a must in Emily's opinion.

This book told of Geraldine's wait for the first big snow of the year. She wanted to sled, so she waited, and waited, and waited for the snow to fall. Finally she had to go to bed and while she slept, the miraculous snowflake accumulation finally happened. This book is also a good read for the five to eight range and well worth scouring your public library for since it is an older book an not in print any longer.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to learn there were more Geraldine books! I loved Geraldine's Blanket when I was little. I thought she was a cute pig and I loved how resourceful she was in the end. And you see Rosie wearing the blanket-dress in most of the other books as well. This book is simply showing a child's anticipation for a big snow to come. I like that Keller is good with including typical emotions in the characters without focusing too much on them or distracting from the plot. (e.g. mother's annoyance with Geraldine continually asking the same question). Great books for young kids.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cute, very basic (without being boring) story about a little girl pig that couldn't wait for that 'foot deep snow' to happen. She heard on the weather that's what was coming she saw people in her neighborhood getting prepared for it, going shopping, going to the library, getting the snow plow on the vehicles etc. She couldn't wait and she KNEW it wasn't going to happen...but it did and everyone was happy in the end. The illustrations and story flowed nicey and was great. Was pleasant to the eyes and ears very nicely done.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

These pictures are, like, ingrained on my mind; I've read it so many times throughout my childhood.
Geraldine's longing for snow and excitement when it finally comes perfectly match what I felt when younger (and still occasionally feel [I went outside yesterday]). Just, a super sweet book filled with the magic of winter and all that good stuff ;u;

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute kids book about waiting for snow when you really want it to come. For example, when you get a new sled!

"Geraldine started to sing. "It's coming, it's coming, it's coming." She sang all the way home and watched the sky."

[Kristina Arnold]

This is a fun book about snow that I would love to read in a classroom when snow is being predicted for that week. It also teaches patience because when you least expect something to come it will be there.

[Jamie Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute story about how everyone, particularly one little girl, is preparing for a snow storm. The vocab is a little hard for an independent read, but would be a great read-aloud when we get close to snow season.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book with fun illustrations for little ones who are eager for snow. I do think she should have been gently admonished to asked more politely instead of demanding her mom to tell her again what Papa heard on the radio. Maybe that one page could have been better worded IMO.

[Keeko · Rating 5 out of 5]

It reminds me exactly of how I felt waiting for snow. I loved reading it, and the illustrations are cute and perfect. Thanks to the author, Holly Keller, and all the people who worked on it, and yay for the Weekly Reader!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how many times I read this book as a child, but even as an adult it is still really cute. Geraldine is impatiently waiting for the big snow that is supposed to come and talks to other characters while she waits.