Laurie Collins
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Stopping by with some books on a winter's evening — new publications of children's literature that will be a pleasure to share.
"Making a Friend" by Alison McGhee and illustrated by Marc Rosenthal speaks sweetly to questions children have about parting from loved ones. The snowman created with great love just can't last forever. When spring arrives, only hints of the snowy friend remains, evidenced in a puddle or the frost on the window.
A tender refrain is repeated throughout the story: "What you love will always be with you."
For this uncomplicated storyline, simple pencil drawings appear on snow-white pages. It is an unpretentious explanation of love and loss, and it depicts with the snowfall in the following year, the opportunity to reawaken a friendship.
In another book with a snowy landscape, "Red Sled" by Lita Judge, a great read-aloud story emerges from only a few words. The text highlights merely the sounds the child and the animals make in the snow. "Scrinch-scrunch" is the sound of footsteps in the snow. "Gadung, gadung, gadung" is the sound of a team of animals riding the sled over the bumps down the hill.
Charmingly depicted animals screaming in delight and fear entertain young readers. The red-hatted child stands out in contrast against the snow-white pages, investigating the mystery of where the sled goes at night. Only the bear tracks remain in the morning as the sled rests where the child left it the day before.
A new edition of a holiday classic, "Over the River and Through the Wood" by L. Maria Child is presented with illustrations by Matt Tavares. Tavares is noted for his own children's books, "Zachary's Ball" and "Oliver's Game."
The verse is subtitled "The New England Boy's Song About Thanksgiving Day," and it follows a boy and his family as they load up the sleigh to head off to the family celebration, as their pup runs alongside them. They travel through the town and country, circa 1880, to the house where a grandmother waits anxiously at the window.
Lydia Maria Child was born in 1802 in Medford, and her poem about traveling to her grandparents' house will be familiar to many. This edition is based on her original text and contains distinctive passages.
Tavares grew up in Winchester and majored in studio art at Bates College in Maine. A true New Englander, he illustrates this story in watercolor, gouache and pencil, and provides some fun touches for the carefully observant reader.
Before the next snowfall, visit your local library and stock up on wintry tales to share with your favorite young readers.
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Laurie Collins is the children's librarian at Newbury Town Library.
