The First Snow

“When the first snow starts to fall, it’s like a fairy tale for all,” repeats this awe-filled translation starring two siblings. After Stefan and Agnes awaken to find the world outside their window “covered with a white blanket,” the two spend an unhurried morning marveling at winter’s transformational effects and relishing the imaginings it inspires. Standard activities such as making snow angels and following animal tracks mingle with more fantastical moments as the pair journey on a snow-built polar bear and discover an ice palace where their greenhouse used to be, building to their mother’s joining them in snowy day revels. Lengthy text from Štumpfová and Malý largely sticks to familiar metaphors, while retro-styled artwork by Štumpfová wows with color layering and stamp-like effects, most notably in a lacy spread of the children peeking through the “ice flowers” on the greenhouse window. Skin tones reflect the white of the page. Ages 4–7. (Aug.)