The Christmas Snow Globe

A holiday turns fantastical when a snow globe seems to summon the white Christmas a child’s been hoping for. Bemoaning a lack of snowy weather on Christmas Eve, young Lucy remains restless after opening a gift—a snow globe. Tucked in bed, she finds that giving the orb a shake prompts flakes to fall indoors: “Suddenly, something cold, something lighter than a feather, landed softly on her cheek.” Delacroix’s balanced storytelling unfolds via simple text and scenes of Lucy and a sibling delighting in snow-covered domestic spaces. They build a snowperson, sled downstairs, and snack on snowflakes (“Nothing could taste more delicious”). Snow sundaes give way to the start of a snowball fight, but before it can really get going, Lucy awakens to a final surprise. Soft graphite shading and red colored pencil accents against cream backgrounds help generate a nostalgic vibe. The dot-eyed characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)