Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Having previously adapted What a Wonderful World into a picture book, Hopgood turns to Bernard and Smith’s holiday classic, featuring the lyrics from Peggy Lee’s version of the song. Using a variety of media including pencil, crayon, and pastel, Hopgood transports readers to a snowy forest where a family outfitted in jackets, hats, mittens, and scarves embark on a hike, accompanied by deer, foxes, birds, and rabbits. Music notes fill the air—and, in one case, the bare branches of a tree, and the scenes strike a balance between reflecting the accompanying lyrics and simply showing a family enjoying itself. The lyrics occasionally diverge from versions of the song that are featured more heavily in holiday rotation (“In the meadow, we can build a snowman./ And pretend that he’s a Santa clown”), but Hopgood’s vivid illustrations should keep readers turning pages and singing along. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)