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The Little Book of Snow
Is it true that no two snowflakes are ever alike? How many Christmases have actually been white? Do the Inuit have dozens of words for snow? Can it ever be too cold to snow?
Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It’s the weather of play, joyful abandon and mischievous games - of snowball fights, skiing holidays and rattling down a hillside at full speed. It’s the weather of childhood - the world transformed into a temporary playground. Even as adults, the urge to throw a snowball is too hard to resist, those impish, childish instincts overtaking our adult workaday selves.
Packed with fascinating insights, outdoor fun, cultural lore and traditional wisdom, The Little Book of Snow delves into the history, science, literary and cultural heritage that surrounds snow, frost and ice – the perfect book for anyone who loves that feeling when you open the curtains in the morning and find the world has turned to white...
Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It’s the weather of play, joyful abandon and mischievous games - of snowball fights, skiing holidays and rattling down a hillside at full speed. It’s the weather of childhood - the world transformed into a temporary playground. Even as adults, the urge to throw a snowball is too hard to resist, those impish, childish instincts overtaking our adult workaday selves.
Packed with fascinating insights, outdoor fun, cultural lore and traditional wisdom, The Little Book of Snow delves into the history, science, literary and cultural heritage that surrounds snow, frost and ice – the perfect book for anyone who loves that feeling when you open the curtains in the morning and find the world has turned to white...
- GenresNonfictionNature
148 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2018
10 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Sally Coulthard
36 books103 followers After studying Archaeology & Anthropology at Oxford University, best-selling author and designer Sally Coulthard has spent the last twenty years designing, making and writing about homes, craft and outdoor spaces. She sees no boundary between the rules that govern good interior design and those which are needed to craft a spectacular studio or glorious garden.
Keen to make good design accessible, she’s written over twenty books about restoring houses, designing interiors and outdoor living. From garden styles to craftsmanship, creating workspaces to building sheds, Sally’s books inspire, encourage and equip readers to take on projects of their own.
Sally is a passionate advocate of rural living and regularly writes about nature and her experiences of smallholding deep in North Yorkshire countryside, including her ‘Good Life in Country’ column for Country Living magazine.
Keen to make good design accessible, she’s written over twenty books about restoring houses, designing interiors and outdoor living. From garden styles to craftsmanship, creating workspaces to building sheds, Sally’s books inspire, encourage and equip readers to take on projects of their own.
Sally is a passionate advocate of rural living and regularly writes about nature and her experiences of smallholding deep in North Yorkshire countryside, including her ‘Good Life in Country’ column for Country Living magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 12, 2025
4,5/5 Forša maza grāmatiņa par… SNIEGU, ko lieliski lasīt, lietojot grāmatzīmi, uz kuras attēlots skaists sarkankrūtītis, brīdī, kad arā ir ziema, bet nav sniegs, un tad tas tomēr atnāk. Bonusa punkts - grāmatiņā viens no piemēriem, kā daudzās valstīs sauc sniegu ir minēta arī latviešu valoda :) mazās valodas runātājam, protams, sirsniņa ietrīsas.
January 31, 2021
So when it snowed here last week where I live, I logged onto my library's app and saw a book on snow. Perfect! A very quick read with some interesting facts. Would have liked the content to be a little more visual (pictures, charts etc) nevertheless, a good book to go for during the winter months.
February 3, 2019
It snowed this week in the UK. You'd have thought the world had ended by the headlines and chaos that the white stuff causes, but no, it is just that we are not used to it. Gone are the days from our childhood where we seem to have snow for weeks, built snowmen, had snowball fights and went sledging. But if you look back at the weather reports it was never quite as long as we thought. However we remember the weather and however inconvenient the snow is to our lives, there is an element of beauty that it brings to the landscape when it does snow.
However there are a lot of facts about snow that aren't always true and this book by Sally Coulthard uncovers the history, science, literary and cultural in a charming way. So if you want to know who holds the record for the largest snowball fight and why an attempt on the record failed, or why each snowflake is different, what the differences are between climate and weather and how ice can tell us about them. She tells us about snow rollers, what a blind smuir is and how old the ski is. This charming little book is a perfect gift for all those that like the winter.
However there are a lot of facts about snow that aren't always true and this book by Sally Coulthard uncovers the history, science, literary and cultural in a charming way. So if you want to know who holds the record for the largest snowball fight and why an attempt on the record failed, or why each snowflake is different, what the differences are between climate and weather and how ice can tell us about them. She tells us about snow rollers, what a blind smuir is and how old the ski is. This charming little book is a perfect gift for all those that like the winter.
December 27, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about Snow.
December 8, 2019
Ganz nett.
Das Vorwort ist noch schön geschrieben, mit der persönlichen Geschichte der Autorin und ihrer Motivation. Der Rest des Buches war für mich aber etwas lieblos gestaltet.
Das Vorwort ist noch schön geschrieben, mit der persönlichen Geschichte der Autorin und ihrer Motivation. Der Rest des Buches war für mich aber etwas lieblos gestaltet.
January 28, 2021
***Actual Star Rating: 2.5 Stars***
Have you ever had questions about snow, ice or anything in that nature? Have you ever thought of how to make an igloo possibly if you have a lot of snow? Well this is the book for those who like the winter season and even better yet winter sports. As such for the reading traveler wrap up warmly, get a nice cup of cocoa and snuggle down for this little read.
The book explores all facets of snow whether it is composition, history, cultural significance, impact on other living things and of course winter fun. Each of these sections includes even more topics that allow the reader to get a chance to explore even more deeply each of these subjects such as what are different types of snow, why is snow white, how people describe different snow types, where does certain articles of winter wear come from and the best tips to improve your winter games.
For me I would have loved perhaps some pictures, especially when it came to perhaps snow house structures and most especially for other glaciological structures such as cornices. They didn't need to be detailed since I really did enjoy the paper cutout-like cover of this book. And perhaps a bit of a pronunciation guide to some of these words that were included.
Furthermore as interesting as this book was to me I just found that it wasn't a good book for me to read from cover-to-cover. Instead I can see myself having this book around and being around the start of the season perhaps reading just a little bit to remind oneself that winter isn't all that bad, that there is some beauty and need before it ends. As a result I think there will be some readers who will enjoy it but they definitely will need to be either weather or winter fans instead of average readers just looking for a quick read.
Have you ever had questions about snow, ice or anything in that nature? Have you ever thought of how to make an igloo possibly if you have a lot of snow? Well this is the book for those who like the winter season and even better yet winter sports. As such for the reading traveler wrap up warmly, get a nice cup of cocoa and snuggle down for this little read.
The book explores all facets of snow whether it is composition, history, cultural significance, impact on other living things and of course winter fun. Each of these sections includes even more topics that allow the reader to get a chance to explore even more deeply each of these subjects such as what are different types of snow, why is snow white, how people describe different snow types, where does certain articles of winter wear come from and the best tips to improve your winter games.
For me I would have loved perhaps some pictures, especially when it came to perhaps snow house structures and most especially for other glaciological structures such as cornices. They didn't need to be detailed since I really did enjoy the paper cutout-like cover of this book. And perhaps a bit of a pronunciation guide to some of these words that were included.
Furthermore as interesting as this book was to me I just found that it wasn't a good book for me to read from cover-to-cover. Instead I can see myself having this book around and being around the start of the season perhaps reading just a little bit to remind oneself that winter isn't all that bad, that there is some beauty and need before it ends. As a result I think there will be some readers who will enjoy it but they definitely will need to be either weather or winter fans instead of average readers just looking for a quick read.
November 22, 2023
I loved this wonderful little book!
June 1, 2024
he aprendido muchas cosas que nunca me había planteado, muy interesante
March 28, 2021
A wonderful little book about snow. In this book, Sally covers many aspects of snow. For example, the type of snows, how they are formed, how to build Igloo and many more.
Such book is suitable to read while relaxing and especially for snow lovers, you will like it.
What would make this book better is the inclusion of pictures, illustrations etc. As much as the majority of readers would know what Sally is talking about, I feel that this would definitely be a bonus point to it.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me.
Such book is suitable to read while relaxing and especially for snow lovers, you will like it.
What would make this book better is the inclusion of pictures, illustrations etc. As much as the majority of readers would know what Sally is talking about, I feel that this would definitely be a bonus point to it.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me.
January 7, 2023
This covers a wide array of snow related topics, from how snowflakes are formed to how to build the perfect snowman. I liked how it was broken up into six sub categories and thought most of the tidbits included were clever and interesting, and this made it very digestible.
However, it wanders off topic a couple of times on some rants, and then ends rather abruptly after the last section, Snow Play. With such a thorough introduction at the beginning I was expecting at least some sort of concluding section. However, as it's pretty short it ended up being a fairly nice quick read.
However, it wanders off topic a couple of times on some rants, and then ends rather abruptly after the last section, Snow Play. With such a thorough introduction at the beginning I was expecting at least some sort of concluding section. However, as it's pretty short it ended up being a fairly nice quick read.
March 11, 2021
And now I know how to make an igloo (kind of...) This book is just as adorable as it sounds, giving you the answers to all your children's or just child-like questions about snow. With a crazy number of snow terms (including deceptive snow formations that can kill you), how snowflakes form and why they are so unique, how hail happens, and why skiing versus snowball snow is just NOT the same snow. Highly recommend.
August 4, 2022
What a little gem of a book. This topic was of particular curiosity and fascination for me given I’m Australian with little experience (to speak of) of snow! Coulthard has managed to create an enchanting little volume about all things snow while not shying away from the impact and progress of climate change. As quietly as a falling snowflake, this serves to firm our resolve to respect and protect the amazing wonders of nature on our unique planet, Earth.
August 19, 2024
a really fun compilation of facts! some parts were more personally interesting to me than others (the first section of 'snow science' was a little mundane compared to the very cool 'snow ecology' that followed it, for example), but overall is just as it advertises: it's a little book that touches on and gives concise overviews about snow and how it relates to different aspects of life.
definitely will try re-reading in the winter time!
definitely will try re-reading in the winter time!
February 4, 2025
Living on the west coast of Canada, we tend to only see snow once or twice a year. It is my tradition to pull this book off the shelf when it finally happens and read it on the rare, fleeting but incredibly cozy snowy mornings.
Love all the interesting facts that I can share with friends and family when we chat about the weather.
Love all the interesting facts that I can share with friends and family when we chat about the weather.
April 14, 2025
Very good book, though not as light hearted as I expected it to be! Talks in some depth about the impact of climate change. Overall though, lighthearted and very educational about the different types of snow ( yes true!) oh and their are instructions too for making and throwing a snowball, how to build a perfect snowman and how you can build an igloo too.
December 18, 2022
3.5
A nice introduction to all things snow containing high level overviews of various snowy topics and facts. My enjoyment of this was somewhat dampened by the fact that it didn’t end, but rather just…stopped.
A nice introduction to all things snow containing high level overviews of various snowy topics and facts. My enjoyment of this was somewhat dampened by the fact that it didn’t end, but rather just…stopped.
March 25, 2025
Provided me all the information you would wanna know as a snow lover! It really gave me that feeling of waking up and looking out my window to find snow outside or nostalgic feelings to snowy holidays as a child 🫶🏼
February 3, 2019
Sweet, light reading for winter.
January 24, 2022
DNF. Very disappointing… I felt like I was reading all the google search results that exist for snow. I love snow, but this was just uninteresting to me.
October 15, 2023
Altijd prettig als een boek een treinreis lang is (Groningen-Utrecht)
January 15, 2025
This was cute and I know it’s a ‘little book’ but some parts I wish there was more in depth information.
May 11, 2025
3.5 stars
December 29, 2023
Cute book with all kinds of different facts about snow and things that go with it.
February 10, 2020
Das Buch ,,Das kleine Buch vom Schnee“ von Sally Coulthard wurde mir freundlicherweise vom Verlag als Rezensionsexemplar zur Verfügung gestellt.
Das Cover finde ich schön und ist ein Hingucker. Beim Auspacken war ich hin und weg und habe ein Foto für Freunde gemacht, weil ich sie an das Buch teilhaben lassen wollte. Der Klappentext macht Vorfreude auf weiße Weihnachten und die Schneeflocke hält man in Händen. 140 Seiten eignen sich perfekt für einen gemütlichen Lesenachmittag mit Keksen und Kakao.
Das erste Kapitel ist nostalgisch und man erinnert sich an die Tage wie man als Kind den Schnee geliebt und im Schnee getobt hat.
Dann wurde es anders als erwartet. Nach dem ersten Kapitel ist es ein Sachbuch über Schnee. Zitate von bekannten Dichtern und Denkern machen das Buch literarisch und tragen zur gemütlichen Stimmung bei.
Beim Lesen bekam ich Lust auf die Antarktis und weißen Winterurlaub.
Viele sachliche Informationen enthält das Buch, einige fand ich zu viel und haben mich nicht interessiert. Andere waren interessant wie zB ,,Blutschnee“ war mir vorher kein Begriff.
Fazit
Es ist ein anderes Buch als erwartet. Ich dachte, dass sachliche wird spielerisch in einer Geschichte vermittelt.
Manche Informationen waren mir zu viel und als Laie unwichtig.
Das Buch trägt zur Stimmung bei und eignet sich für Menschen mit Winterdepressionen, weil man Verständnis für den Winter, Schnee und die Kälte bekommt.
Es ist ein tolles Accessoire im Bücherregal.
Das Cover finde ich schön und ist ein Hingucker. Beim Auspacken war ich hin und weg und habe ein Foto für Freunde gemacht, weil ich sie an das Buch teilhaben lassen wollte. Der Klappentext macht Vorfreude auf weiße Weihnachten und die Schneeflocke hält man in Händen. 140 Seiten eignen sich perfekt für einen gemütlichen Lesenachmittag mit Keksen und Kakao.
Das erste Kapitel ist nostalgisch und man erinnert sich an die Tage wie man als Kind den Schnee geliebt und im Schnee getobt hat.
Dann wurde es anders als erwartet. Nach dem ersten Kapitel ist es ein Sachbuch über Schnee. Zitate von bekannten Dichtern und Denkern machen das Buch literarisch und tragen zur gemütlichen Stimmung bei.
Beim Lesen bekam ich Lust auf die Antarktis und weißen Winterurlaub.
Viele sachliche Informationen enthält das Buch, einige fand ich zu viel und haben mich nicht interessiert. Andere waren interessant wie zB ,,Blutschnee“ war mir vorher kein Begriff.
Fazit
Es ist ein anderes Buch als erwartet. Ich dachte, dass sachliche wird spielerisch in einer Geschichte vermittelt.
Manche Informationen waren mir zu viel und als Laie unwichtig.
Das Buch trägt zur Stimmung bei und eignet sich für Menschen mit Winterdepressionen, weil man Verständnis für den Winter, Schnee und die Kälte bekommt.
Es ist ein tolles Accessoire im Bücherregal.
March 14, 2020
Cute, if you love snow.
December 4, 2019
Wie groß war das größte Hagelkorn?
“Das kleine Buch vom Schnee” von Sally Coulthard hält, was es verspricht: 150 Seiten rund um das Thema Schnee gespickt mit Fakten und Wissen!
Die Einleitung hat mir tatsächlich am besten gefallen! Coulthard beschreibt, wie sie auf das Thema gekommen ist und warum es uns alle zu interessieren hat. Schnell wägt man in Erinnerungen! Schnee ist so faszinierend und toll - bis heute. Diese Faszination umreißt sie und erklärt ihre persönliche Beziehung zu Schnee.
In den folgenden Kapiteln geht es vornehmlich um die wissenschaftlichen Hintergründe von Schnee, belegt mit Fakten und Studien. So erfährt man beispielsweise, warum Schneeflocken so aussehen, wie man ein Iglu baut oder welche verschiedenen Arten von Schnee es gibt. Natürlich alles wissenschaftlich dargelegt. Dabei ist auch der Knackpunkt: ich hätte mir eine etwas andere Sprache gewünscht: die mehr erklärt und sanfter ist. Es war teilweise etwas mühselig zum lesen. Ich denke, dass dieses Büchlein eher etwas für den gesamten Winterzeit ist, indem man immer mal wieder blättert und neue Informationen über das Thema Schnee erhält.
“Das kleine Buch vom Schnee” von Sally Coulthard hält, was es verspricht: 150 Seiten rund um das Thema Schnee gespickt mit Fakten und Wissen!
Die Einleitung hat mir tatsächlich am besten gefallen! Coulthard beschreibt, wie sie auf das Thema gekommen ist und warum es uns alle zu interessieren hat. Schnell wägt man in Erinnerungen! Schnee ist so faszinierend und toll - bis heute. Diese Faszination umreißt sie und erklärt ihre persönliche Beziehung zu Schnee.
In den folgenden Kapiteln geht es vornehmlich um die wissenschaftlichen Hintergründe von Schnee, belegt mit Fakten und Studien. So erfährt man beispielsweise, warum Schneeflocken so aussehen, wie man ein Iglu baut oder welche verschiedenen Arten von Schnee es gibt. Natürlich alles wissenschaftlich dargelegt. Dabei ist auch der Knackpunkt: ich hätte mir eine etwas andere Sprache gewünscht: die mehr erklärt und sanfter ist. Es war teilweise etwas mühselig zum lesen. Ich denke, dass dieses Büchlein eher etwas für den gesamten Winterzeit ist, indem man immer mal wieder blättert und neue Informationen über das Thema Schnee erhält.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews