Review: 'Snow Party' by Harriet Ziefert

Snow Party
By Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by Mark Jones
ISBN-10: 1934706280
ISBN-13: 978-1934706282
Hardcover, 40 pages
October 15, 2008
Blue Apple Books
Reviewed by Sabrina Williams


With winter approaching and cold weather finally upon us, curling up indoors with a lovely storybook about snow seems only appropriate. Could there be a better way to enjoy the frosty accumulation than from the confines of a warm, dry home? Harriet Ziefert's Snow Party is a celebration of that dark time of the year, when we assume all is quiet and at rest in the world outdoors.

The scenery dominates this picture book for children ages four to eight. The entire book is comprised of full color two page spreads, featuring the beautiful illustrations of Mark Jones. There is very little text, with an average of one to two lines per page. The book opens with a gorgeous nighttime view of snow falling over a lake in the forest. Jones uses a range of deep purple and blue hues to create this picturesque glimpse of a peaceful winter storm. We turn the page to discover the evening storm has left a thick blanket of snow across the countryside. Again, Ziefert and Jones convey an enveloping sense of peace and calm.

Then, out of no where, an army of snow people emerges on the horizon. Men, women, and children march across the winter wonderland, carrying gifts and pots of food, searching for a party locale. The snow people, in all their various persona, decide a grove of trees in the center of the frozen lake will make the perfect spot for their celebration. They begin setting up, decorating and sweeping the icy lake that will become a dance floor. Musicians arrive in the afternoon, and the party commences.

A regal snowman in a top hat toasts the shortest day of the year, honoring the first day of winter. He explains that when it snows on the winter solstice, the snow people have a snow party. And the crowd cheers.

The next scenes present the snow people feasting, dancing, and unwrapping gifts as the evening progresses. It is this first scene that I have to note is a little strange. We see tables of snow people, dining away on snowballs and carved slices of ice. Isn't this a form of cannibalism? But then, what would snow people eat, anyway?

As the party winds down, the people begin gathering their belongings and removing decorations. A fresh snow begins to fall, erasing all evidence of the prior festivities. By the next morning, no one could ever tell the land was the site of a magical snow party. The book closes, hinting at the party as a legend as real as Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. The world is at peace again.

Snow Party is a fun seasonal book that should easily appeal to young children. As I mentioned, the illustrations alone are enough to charm any reader, but allowing children to embrace the art of folklore is a wonderful gift. The cover is embellished with iridescent lettering and textured snow, so it stimulates the reader's senses from the outset. With artwork as a focal point, Snow Party is an exemplary debut for illustrator Mark Jones.