Goldstone follows up his Awesome Autumn (2012) with a salute to all things winter.As autumns tome was devoted to change, this one fashions winter as a season of wondering and waiting. Some of the things Goldstone imagines that readers might wonder about are how animals survive the cold, how snowflakes and icicles form, and why breath is visible in the cold. And there are all sorts of things people wait for in the winter: for days to get longer, for snow to enjoy winter sports, for everyone to get on their outdoor gear, for winter holidays. Trees wait out the winter by dropping their leaves or having specialized foliage, like evergreens, while animals cope by hibernating or slowing down, and many have adaptations to help them find food or survive the cold. Rounding out the book are spreads delineating things readers can feel, hear, and taste and shapes readers can see in winter. The final page looks forward to Spectacular Spring, and the backmatter gives instructions for six wintry crafts, including fake snow, paper snowflakes, and pine cone bird feeders. Photos get readers up-close and personal with the sights of winter; many are cropped to look like mittens, and many pages are decorated with stunning photographs of snowflakes. Readers will be doing a snow dance and waiting for winter all the more. (Nonfiction. 5-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

K-Gr 3-An exploration of the wonders of winter. Big, bold text starts off the reading adventure, with smaller, more detailed text following up. The title begins with the theme of waiting ("We wait for the days to get longer") but soon switches focus to the senses ("How does winter feel?"). There is a lot of read-aloud potential in this book, but the sudden shifts in topics will likely make it a difficult experience. For instance, a spread on winter sounds features winter-related onomatopoeia in large, colorful type ("crunch," "drip," "brrrrrrr") that makes this offering great for sharing with an audience, but the very next spread contains a lengthy discussion of how snow forms. The photos are bright and clear and generally represent the text well, but the layout is very busy. VERDICT A browsable selection on the winter season. Goldstone's Awesome Autumn is similarly designed, albeit better organized.-Rachel Reinwald, Lake Villa District Library, IL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Following up on Awesome Autumn (2012), this large-format book introduces winter through observations, pertinent facts, and clear, colorful photos. Posing questions that will engage children, the text asks how winter feels, sounds, and tastes. It explains why deciduous trees drop their leaves before winter and how evergreens protect their needles. It discusses whether every snowflake is unique and what it means to see your breath on cold days. The pages on animals in winter give examples of species that hibernate or experience torpor, as well as others that forage throughout the season, though their diets may change. Inviting audience participation, a double-page spread offers photos of 20 seasonal objects and asks, What Shape Is Winter? The final section tells how to make a half-dozen simple winter projects, such as paper snowflakes, a snow globe, glittering icicle pictures, a pinecone bird feeder, and fake snow. With its appealing illustrations and clearly presented information, here's a fine resource for teachers discussing winter with young children. Consider multiple copies.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist