Under each picture, there is one word in large, clear type depicting the action. This is good on two levels, for the beginning reader and the toddler learning to talk. A Caldecott Medal winner, the leading character is a young African-American child whose adventures on a snowy day, make a charming story. Like all Caldecott books, this one should be easily found at the library. Jumbo type again encourages beginning readers.
Illustrations are in a vivid photo-realistic style, visually and intellectually stimulating.
Two children hike through the countryside on a snowy day. As usual, Steig tells a good suspenseful story with rather plain, yet effective illustrations. The heroine, young Irene, in the wake of her mother's illness, tries to deliver an evening dress her mother has made for the Duchess. The trouble is the ball is that evening and a blizzard is raging outside. The 25 poems or excerpts, selected by Barbara Rogasky, are a wonderful sampling from such great poets as Shakespeare, Frost, Sandburg, Wordsworth the best of the best poets.