So Cold!

On a day that’s 23 degrees below zero, a parent and child head outdoors for frozen play in this amiable story, a vehicle for spotlighting the science-savvy fun that can be had amid extreme cold. After bundling up in snow gear and a balaclava, the child, self-dubbed “Freezeman,” and their father venture into the yard to observe the temperature’s transformational effects. They blow soap bubbles (“Fragile bubbles float like snow globes with crystals inside”), successfully use a frozen banana to hammer a nail, create “snowmade” maple syrup candy, and practice tossing wet clothing until the yard is full of frozen trousers standing straight up. With grainy, chalk-like textures, Park’s vibrant artwork employs cool tones to communicate the chill. The characters, whose skin tones reflect the white of the page, sport pink and purple hair, not to mention triumphant expressions, as their experiments wow time and again. Back matter further explains the activities. Ages 3–7. (Nov.)