"It’s a counting book. It’s a winter animal book. It’s a just plain beautiful book! . . . The prettiest nondenominational winter book seen in ages." — Kirkus ReviewsA
"It’s a counting book. It’s a winter animal book. It’s a just plain beautiful book! . . . The prettiest nondenominational winter book seen in ages." — Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)
An atmospheric tribute to the beauty of winter and its creatures.
One red fox walks across the white snow—quietly stalking winter. Two ravens croak and gurgle—raucously talking winter. Three snowshoe hares hop on big paws—silently tracking winter. Four red squirrels feast at their midden full of cones—hungrily cracking winter. Wherever you look, another creature is making its mark on the snow-covered season.
Inspired by the author’s years in Alaska, this lyrical book celebrates the rhythms of the tundra and its inhabitants. Poetic lines and stunning scratchboard art create the perfect read for chilly days—whether winter is just beginning or just starting to melt into spring.
Booklist
"Spare, nuanced poems—elegantly complete in just four to five lines—celebrate the vitality of this world of chilled beauty. . . . Both bold and intricate, dramatic illustrations magnificently enhance the poetry. . . . [a splendid celebration of a wild winter world."
School Library Journal
"A visual treat that cheerfully celebrates winter through lyrical facts found in the natural world, while incidentally also being a counting book. A worthy purchase."
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"It’s a counting book. It’s a winter animal book. It’s a just plain beautiful book! . . . Though weather and color palettes may change from page to page as the book counts to 12, the one thing that remains the same is the sense of awe readers will feel observing these animals in their native Alaskan environments. . . . Carlstrom’s writing deftly sets this title apart from other counting books. . . . A little scratchboard, a little watercolor, and voilà! The prettiest nondenominational winter book seen in ages."
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Nancy White Carlstrom has written over sixty books for children, including Before You Were Born (Eerdmans), Mama, Will It Snow Tonight? (Boyds Mills Press), and the bestselling Jesse Bear series (Scholastic). Counting Winter was shaped by the nineteen years Nancy and her family called Alaska home. She currently lives in the Seattle area and enjoys seeing Alaskan wildlife—and her grandchildren—on trips back to the state. Visit her website at nancywhitecarlstrom.com.
Claudia McGehee is the illustrator and sometimes author of many picture books, including Begin with a Bee, Creekfinding (both University of Minnesota Press), and My Wilderness (Little Bigfoot). In starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, Claudia’s scratchboard illustrations have been praised as “meticulous” and “striking.” Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Claudia now lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Visit her website at claudia-mcgehee.com or follow her on Instagram @claudia.mcgehee.
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