Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations

by Laura Purdie Salas, Micha Archer (Illustrator)

Poetry + Math + Science = A new way of looking at spring

Math meets metaphor in this eye-opening exploration of spring. Each clever equation is a tiny, perfect poem that prompts readers to look at the ordinary and see the miraculous. Can you look at an egg in a nest and see a jewelry box? How are sunlight and heat like an alarm clock? Engaging sidebars reveal the science behind the signs of spring.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Science, Mathematics, Nonfiction, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 5, 2019

About the author

Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 130 books for kids and teens, including WATER CAN BE... (Millbrook, 2014), A LEAF CAN BE... (Millbrook, 2012), and BOOKSPEAK! POEMS ABOUT BOOKS (Clarion, 2011). She loves to introduce kids to poetry and help them find poems they can relate to, no matter what their age, mood, and personality.

Laura is a thinker, a cupcake and brownie addict, and an adventurer (as long as it doesn't involve skydiving).

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry + Springtime = the perfect book for April
Learn about what spring brings through equation poems. You'll feel inspired to try writing and illustrating your own equation poem after reading this.

[Nedra Isenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be such a fun book to read to children and have them begin noticing and writing their own equations! Now I’m off to find more books by this author. The illustrations were a delight and I was thankful the illustrator included a description of the techniques used to make them.

[Ellie Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the answers😁

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at this title always brings to mind Olaf from "Frozen" singing about snowmen in summertime. The author has created poetic word equations that are supported by oil and collage illustrations of spring scenes. Additional information is shared in smaller type so that the equations take center stage.

Here is an example from the first spread. "science + poetry = surprise!" is displayed against a snowy landscape with spring flowers peeking through. Below the equation readers see, "Science is why and how a flower grows. Poetry is looking at that flower and seeing a firework. Surprise!" The last spread leaves young readers with the thought, "you + the world = ?"

Back matter includes an author's note, illustrator's note, a discussion of when spring actually starts, and a list for further reading. This is a wonderful book to use as a mentor text in poetry units or a study of seasons. A collaboration with the art teacher would create a opportunity for an art and poetry display and gallery walk. Imagine the possibilities!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

February is the time for new books published, and Laura's book published last week is beautifully timed, because it follows the path to spring from melting puddles through later events, all the way to, well, you must read it to discover that end. In her author's note, Laura reminds us that we can live anywhere this time of year to discover the beginnings of the slide to spring. "You just have to notice." And notice she does, from "Big beaver + Big beaver = little beaver" to "1 dandelion x 1 breath = 100 parachutes, the equations follow spring's awakening. Each page has a brief paragraph explaining a bit more about the equation, with Micha Archer's detailed collage illustrations filling in the "picture"! The backmatter adds an author's and illustrator's note, a short explanation of 'when spring starts', and a list for further reading. I'd love to share this with a class, hoping they will "notice" and write their own equations!
Laura's Words + Micha's Art = Fabulous Book

[Gabriel Infierno · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC via Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. *

Hubiera amado leer esta clase de libros cuando era chica, osea me encanta leerlos de grande asi que..., nada las ilustraciones son muy bellas y la forma de describir los hechos de cada estación y a la veces simplificarlos en simples ecuaciones hace que sea muy didáctico y la vez que explora las posibilidades del lenguaje.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the combination of words and symbols to create equation poetry! This story is so scaleable for reading, conversation, and exploration. Read the whole book, read just the equations, read just the pictures. It could be a far read or a slow read...it took me awhile to read because I kept telling those around me...did you know....

Now I want to try writing equation poetry...and I can't wait for spring.

[Joanna Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo good. My kindergarten students loved the equation themes and could not stop talking about skunk parades. The pictures were so beautiful that children took it to retell it again and again.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I really like snowmen”

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 sneezy, pollen dusted stars.
In theory, I love spring. In practice, come spring and I am reduced to little more than a puddle of snot. Spring + Tash = sinusitis. Which brings me to this gorgeous picture book by Laura Purdie Salas, Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations. A combination of poetry, science, and maths to ring in the start of Spring. It's one of those rare books that every time you read it out loud, it is a slightly new experience. We've read only the pictures talking about how seasons vary in difference parts of the world. Sometimes, we might read just the equations and get caught up in making our own, starting quite rationally and ending in utter chaos. And when we have more time and longer attention spans, we read all the text about migrations and changing constellations, about hibernation, transformation, and a world waking up to possibility.
This is definitely a book for your shelves especially for the 3 - 10 age group.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teachers and librarians, you will definitely want to add this to your poetry collections!

[Brenda Kahn]

Not all the equation poems in this book "add" up/ make sense. I would've written one or two slightly differently. But the form is a playful way of exploring seasonal science concepts. The illustrations are superb.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

As winter turns to spring, changes happen all around. Refreshingly, this book looks at those changes through a mix of poetry and science. In the first pages, the differences between poetry and science are pointed out in a way that makes perfect sense. Subjects like hibernation, streams, wildlife, maple syrup, flowers, wind, bees, and clouds are all explored. The poetry is entirely in equation form like the title, swiftly capturing the essence of something rather like a haiku but in an even briefer format. Readers are encouraged to see poetry and science all around them.

Salas plays with the poetic form here, creating a mathematical poetry style that is entirely joyous to read. Because of the brevity of the form, the narrative is particularly necessary for some of the poems to make sense for readers. The narrative is also brief and focused, explaining the science behind what we see in nature.

The illustrations by Archer are done in oils and collage. They are filled with deep colors of spring sky, blooming flowers, pond water and other parts of nature. Layered and filled with textures too, the illustrations are rich and saturated.

A winning mix of poetry and science, this is a book that captures the wonder of spring. Appropriate for ages 4-8.

https://wakingbraincells.com/2019/03/...

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a genre bending poetry non-fiction picture book about science of spring. It uses a simple poetic form to calculate the appearance of spring. Each of the 24 equation poems offers a simple premise like the title “Snowman-Cold= Puddle” which begins a topic discussion about the science behind the equation. Also excellently arranged by early, middle and late spring, the season changes occur chronologically and the illustrations change from the melting snow to the explosion of dandelions and other nature as they return to capture the warmth of late spring.

Beautifully arranged and illustrated with stunning mixed media collage art, this title offers a unique approach to the science behind the change of seasons. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Read for Beehive Award Long List: Poetry Category*

As a book about nature and springtime and teaching kids what happens at the change of the seasons, this is a great book! The equations are a clever idea, the artwork is great, and the scientific asides are informative.

What I'm iffy about is whether this qualifies as a book of poetry. Most of the text in the book constitutes those scientific asides and none of it really indicates "poetry." In fact, it's easy to skip over the equations and just read the informative text. And since I was reading this with a mind to review it as poetry, I really can't give it a high score for that. If this was in the non-fiction category for the Beehive Awards, that would be a different story.

[Meagan Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry book describes what happens to snow when Spring arrives with the use of poems, math, and science. This book can serve many purposes in the classroom and can start out by being used in a literature lesson about poetry and the metaphors that are within the story. This book can also be used for math lessons in younger grades because it includes subtraction problems, just like in the title. This story can also be beneficial to refer to with a science lesson about seasons and use as a reference when Winter is over and temperatures start to rise, the snow begins to melt and turn to water, to signify it is Spring time.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful book to use for poetry. Looking at science and how things work can be the impetus for different ways to express a process. The title in this situation looks at how the warming temperatures melt the snow and create more water from the earth. But looked at in a more poetic way, and using math of all things!, the idea of a snowman becoming a puddle because the cold has been taken from the air is like the shortest, yet wonderfully visual poem. This is something I'm going to try writing and see if I can get my students on board as well.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the author writes in the first spread,
"Science is why and how a
flower grows. Poetry is
looking at that flower and
seeing a firework. Surprise!"

This gorgeously illustrated book combines equation poetry and science to look with double lens at the wonders and surprises of the natural world through the seasons.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun way to look at math and nature and metaphor! A couple are a stretch but the whole concept is really clever. This would be a terrific writing prompt to use in a classroom, asking kids to create their own equations. So imaginative!

Micha Archer's oil and collage illustrations are wonderful too

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

I read this book out loud to a group of 2nd graders. I think that this book is better suited to a one-on-one or small group read aloud so that students can carefully examine each page and have a conversation with adults about what the math equations mean in each context. Students loved the goose + goose + goose + goose page!

A fun way to talk about the transition of seasons!

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book looks at spring with a new lens. Math equations and poems on each page explain why and how different things occur in nature during spring. The illustrations complement the text perfectly. Both will engage young readers. This is a must have for any elementary classroom.

[Maria Caplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power In wonder! Interesting facts woven into beautiful equations. Merging science, poetry and string vocabulary. Gorgeous illustrations. Excellent mentor text for science, creativity, writing and fun.

[Tori Jimenez · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR level: 4.2
Lexile: 710L

The book combines science, math, and poetry to help students understand the changing of seasons and the many different aspects that come together to create Spring.

Traits: Ideas

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one I read on my own, not for preschool. I picked it up because of the fun word math, but I liked it more for the art (birch trunks made of strips of paper with music staffs, for example) and the simple scientific explanations. 4.5

[Rebecca Plaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! The delightful equations coupled with the collage art and information about spring changes makes this a perfect classroom and library book. Back pages has suggested further read, so smart!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The illustrations are so perfect, giving a great picture to each equation/poem!
This would be a wonderful way to challenge some thinking and writing during science class. This book deserves to be savored.

[Shay Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really clever picture book. Combines nature and science and poetry and equations. Some picture books you only read once or twice but I think this one will be used often and will inspire several further learning activities (like learning about maple syrup etc)

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I just wanted a book to demonstrate equations for my kindergarten math students, I found this book also talks about science, the seasons, and poetry. A great book for showing the interconnectedness of various subjects.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea - talks about how snowmen melt when it stops being cold outside, with an equation like 'snowman - cold = puddle'. There are some +,-,* -. We're not crazy about it in general, maybe try again when Stella's bigger and can engage with the math concept a little more.

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun way to look at the changes that spring brings and to capture the essence in just a few words and a process like adding, subtracting, or multiplying. Divided into early, mid and late spring, each page includes an equation and a short paragraph of explanation.