Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser

If you are an animal that hibernates you may not know about snow!

"White and wet and cold and soft."

Squirrel, Hedgehog and later Bear join together to wait for the first fall of snow. They know the facts, as explained by Deer.  White? Wet?? Cold? Soft?

This is a such a surprising book. It is so noisy and yet so quiet.  It is so cold and at the same time filled with warm smiles.

Squirrel is the first to hear about snow. He decides to keep himself busy while he waits but he is very  noisy so he wakes up Hedgehog. While the two of them wait for the first snowflake Squirrel suggests he and Hedgehog sing sea shanties. The following pages have no words but you can see them wildly singing in the forest and of course they wake up Bear.

Our group of three now go looking for snow. Hedgehog finds the first snowflake! Yes it is white, and wet, and cold (toothbrush!). Squirrel also finds the first snowflake. It is white, and cold and a little wet (tin can!). Bear "is speechless. Because what they have found is white and wet and cold but not soft at all!" Luckily he has found the very first 'snowflake!' They all sit down and look at this slightly smelly object (single old sock). There are no words on these pages - you don't need words but as the group sit together the first real snowflakes do begin to fall. This is an exquisite picture book moment. To celebrate their happiness the group make their very first snowman and then they retire to bear's cave for a good long sleep!

Now turn to the final end paper.  It is perfect.

Readers will howl at the animals’ mistaken notions of snow,and they’ll sigh with satisfaction at the just-cozy-enough end. A perfect marriage of words and pictures. Kirkus Star Review

Now take a minute to read this detailed and glowing review by Elizabeth Bird.  "But once in a great while, if I’m lucky, I run across a book so spectacular that I have to review it immediately. Waiting for Winter was that book."

I am so sad to say this book is out of print. It was first published in 2009. Sebastian Meschenmoser is a German author illustrator.  Here is the German cover of Waiting for Winter.

But I do have some good news there are two sequels to Waiting for Winter and both are still in print. Take a look at this review in the School Library Journal.