Over and Under the Snow - by Kate Messner

About the Book

A little girl, out cross-country skiing with her father, thinks about the various ways familiar animals survive the harsh winter weather. OA good choice for winter reading, this quiet but eye-opening picture book could heighten a child's awareness of the natural world.ON"Booklist." Full color.

Book Synopsis

A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback!

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the "subnivean zone" (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF HIBERNATION BOOK FOR KIDS: While there are many wonderful books depicting animals' preparations for winter (including, for some, a long winter's nap), Over and Under the Snow gives a unique peek into the busy daily lives of many types of forest creatures once winter is upon them.

GREAT SET OF NATURE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL: The five-book series by author Kate Messner and illustrator Christopher Silas Neal is a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library, sure to delight curious toddlers and emerging young readers.

Perfect for:

• Fans of the Over and Under series
• Kids who love winter and animals, including rabbits, squirrels, foxes, owls, frogs, and bumblebees
• Baby shower, birthday, and holiday gift giving and year-round reading for nature enthusiasts
• Readers who love The Snowy Day, The Story of Snow, A Loud Winter's Nap, and Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

Review Quotes

"This book depicting beauty in nature is a gem...Anyone looking for a picture book that also teaches science will love this title" - Library Media Connecton, Starred Review

Marion Vannett Ridgway Book Award Winner: Illustration 2012

"[A] lovely study of the ways animals spend the winter." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Beautifully rendered" - The Horn Book Magazine, starred review

"Kate Messier... weaves a nature lesson" - USA Today

"Messner packs much information into the serene wintry landscape, beautifully captured in Neal's stunning retro-style illustrations." - The New York Times

"This book depicting beauty in nature is a gem... Anyone looking for a picture book that also teaches science will love this title" - Library Media Connecton, Starred Review

"Throughout the book, Neal's crisp, clean mixed-media illustrations cleverly provide above- and belowground views, and Messner's back material will educate children about the subnivean zone and animal adaptations" - School Library Journal

"Utterly charming, and informative, to boot." - Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Kate Messner is a middle school teacher and the author of several books for young readers, including the Sea Monster series. She is the recipient of an E. B. White Read Aloud Award and she lives on Lake Champlain.

Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to the New York Times, The New Yorker, and creates book covers for various publishers. He has directed short animated videos for Kate Spade and Anthropologie and was awarded a medal from the Society of Illustrators for his work in motion graphics. He illustrated the acclaimed picture books Over and Under the Snow and Lifetime, both of which explore the natural world. Over and Under the Snow, with author Kate Messner, is praised for its "stunning retro-style illustrations" (New York Times), was a 2011 New York Times Editor's Choice, and won an E.B. White Honor Award in 2012. He contributed art to New York Times best seller Goodnight Songs, a collection of poems by the author of Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown. Neal's self-authored book debut, Everyone, is published by Candlewick Press. He exhibits drawings at galleries and speaks at events around the world. He currently works and lives in Brooklyn and teaches illustration at Pratt Institute.