Snow

The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett

 

THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER

Written and illustrated by Jan Brett

(G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR; $19.99, Ages 4-8)

The Christmas Sweater cover pug in red sweater.

 

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

“THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER, partly inspired by the Ancient Greek myth of Ariadne, weaves a heartwarming tale of an adventurous boy and an adorable pug in a Christmas sweater who saves the day.”

 

REVIEW:

One of the many reasons my family has loved Jan Brett’s books, in addition to their stunning artwork, is their re-readability. Even for this review, I found myself eager to return right back to the beginning after my initial read to make sure I caught every last detail. Not only was I delighted to see all the clues depicted in Brett’s signature margin art, but I appreciated the chance to admire all the warm winter scenes.

 

The Christmas Sweater int1 pug and child opening gifts beside tree.
Interior spread from The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR, ©2025.

 

Theo has an adorable puppy, Ari. On Christmas morning, Theo’s Yiayia (Grandma) shares a handmade red sweater she’s knitted for the pug, but it’s not Ari’s cup of tea. Thoughtful Theo wants to convey both his and Ari’s appreciation for their gifts—Theo’s gotten cool snowshoes—so he decides to go on a hike with his dog to use the Christmas presents. “After packing gingerbread, dog cookies, and hot cocoa,
off we went.”

Dog walkers are out and about in the snow in a sweet scene that made me want to join in, even though I don’t have a dog! But not everyone is heading for Echo Lake. The trek is usually familiar to Theo, though today the snow is much higher than usual and still falling. This makes navigating difficult, but he perseveres nonetheless. With Ari in his backpack, Theo is confident he will soon arrive at the lake.

 

 

The Christmas Sweater int2 neighbors dogwalking in snow.
Interior spread from The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR, ©2025.

 

 

Unfortunately, when Theo reaches Echo Lake, he is unsure how to get back because all his tracks are buried in the snow. All the while, readers see magpies seeking out shiny objects in the border illustrations of red wool, which tell the tale of what has happened during the hike. Feeling lost and concerned, Theo also notices that Ari’s sweater is gone. “The woods were transformed, but how could a bright red sparkly sweater disappear?” The relationship between Theo and Ari is so heartwarming that even non-dog lovers will find the pair’s dynamic charming.

 

 

The Christmas Sweater int3 the pup spies a surprise in the snow.
Interior spread from The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR, ©2025.

 

 

Fortunately for Theo and Ari, the pup spies something in the snow, something the magpies have taken that readers may have spotted, that helps them retrace their path home. That’s what never ceases to make Brett’s style so engaging. And, without giving too much away,  in a wonderfully rewarding surprise for both Ari and Theo, the unraveled Christmas sweater turns out to be the initially unwanted gift that keeps on giving in this magical holiday story.

 

Find out more about the inimitable Jan Brett here.

Click here for activities.

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Snow Sisters! Written by Kerri Kokias

SNOW SISTERS!
 Written by Kerri Kokias
Illustrated by Teagan White
(Knopf BYR; $17.99, Ages 3-7)

is reviewed today by Cathy Ballou Mealey.

 

Cover image from SNOW SISTERS! Written by Kerri Kokias with art by Teagan White

 

When swirling snowflakes fill the morning sky, two creative, independent Snow Sisters! react in unique and complementary ways throughout author Kerri Kokias’s debut picture book.

The title page, a peek into their cozy shared bedroom, hints at the distinctive personalities of each sister. One girl lies sprawled across her bed with toys and clothes strewn about, while the other sleeps tucked in tight with toys in a row and an alarm clock nearby. After they wake, the first sister, on left hand pages, dresses in snow gear and rushes outside. She throws, builds, and tracks alongside a fluffy squirrel. Her sister, on right hand pages, opts for indoor comforts. She keeps busy with books, baking and snowflake making.

 

Snow Sisters! by Kerri Kokias Interior artwork by Teagan White
Interior spread from Snow Sisters! Written by Kerri Kokias, illustrated by Teagan White, Knopf BYR ©2017.

 

Kokias’s clever parallel text draws us into their individual worlds right up until an exciting mid-book switcheroo. When the outdoors becomes too cold and wet for one sister, the second is drawn outside after spotting a chubby bunny from the window. “Bye!” the sisters greet one another as they trade indoor and outdoor delights. Each embarks on re-visiting fresh interpretations of the words we heard in the beginning: baking, making, throwing, building, etc. The short, simple, active verbs make this book a reading experience that is very accessible for young ears and eyes.

 

Interior artwork from Snow Sisters! by Kerri Kokias illustrated by Teagan White
Interior spread from Snow Sisters! Written by Kerri Kokias, illustrated by Teagan White, Knopf BYR ©2017.

 

White’s homey illustrations utilize a purple-pink palette for one sister, and orange-peach tones for the other, complementing their respective brunette and auburn hair colors. Interior scenes are accented with mellow teal greens, contrasting with the beautiful outdoor images glowing with purple and pale grey snow. Young readers will enjoy discovering amusing repeated details from scene to scene, whether it be favorite stuffed toys or paper snowflakes.

 

Interior spread from Snow Sisters! by Kerri Kokias illustrated by Teagan White
Interior spread from Snow Sisters! Written by Kerri Kokias with illustrations by Teagan White, Knopf BYR ©2017.

 

The final spread repeats the book title, Snow Sisters!, and shows us how the two have found a time and place to come together and share their snowy fun. Readers young and old, with or without siblings, will appreciate the abundant and inclusive approaches for having fun and celebrating snow in this delightful, cheery debut.

Click here for author tour dates.

  • Reviewed by Cathy Ballou Mealey

 

Where obtained: I reviewed a copy from my local library and received no other compensation. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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Whatever the Weather! Series by Carol Thompson

As diverse as the weather is, so are the babies illustrated by Carol Thompson, in this four book Whatever the Weather! board book series which includes: SNOW, RAIN, SUN, and WIND, (Child’s Play International Ltd., $4.99, Ages 0-3).

In SNOWSnow-cvr.jpg, a child puts on his warm clothes and goes out to experience the sounds and sensations of playing in the snow.

Slide…
… and…
… slip.
Whump!

When the sun gets low in the sky he must say goodnight to his snow monsters (snowmen), and go inside to warm his chilly nose and toes.

Sun-cvr.jpgIn contrast to the cold and snowy weather, Thompson has brightly illustrated the book, SUN, with babies donning sun hats and sunscreen, and little else. They strip down to the bare necessities of clothing for a day of fun in the sun.

Shoes off, socks off…
…clothes off!

This barefoot romp takes us from sun up to sun down.

RAINRain-cvr.jpg is a delightfully lighthearted dance through the raindrops. Little ones will love the onomatopoeia and rhythm of the text.

Drip drop, Plip plop, Splish splosh……sploosh!

From first drop to sunshine and rainbows, this is a fun read!

 

Wind-cvr.jpgHold onto your hats and hounds when you read WIND. Thompson’s illustrations capture the movement and chaos of a windy day.

Wind ruffles and tickles …
…and snatches!
Wheeeeeeeeee…

This briskly paced read lends itself to drama and sounds effects, as the wind lifts us up and sets us back down to a calm ending.

It’s no surprise that Thompson has done such a beautiful job of illustrating stuffed bunnies, pinwheels, and kiddie-pools, as well as many other easily recognizable items in this delightful 12 page board book series. She’s illustrated more than forty-five books for children and is the recipient of the Mother Goose Award for Children’s Book Illustration.

– Reviewed by MaryAnne Locher

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