The Festival of Ice and Snow by Angie Cui illustrated by Anna Wilson

"As the sun sets, the massive ice sculptures sparkly with multicoloured lights. 
It's like being inside a kaleidoscope."

Sometimes a memory or a fragment of a memory can be the impetus for a moving personal story. This book is based on the author's own childhood memory of visiting the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China. Angie Cui writes her story in both English and simplified Chinese.

The character I liked most in this story is the grandfather - he is brave enough to go on a 500 metre slide but not so sure about riding on the Ferris wheel.  I also loved the way he shared delicious sweet treats with his granddaughter and her cousin. There is a joy also in this story where we witness the shared experience of a child with their grandfather and the special memories they are creating.

The 210-meter-high Snowflake Ferries Wheel is absolutely another crowd favorites. A 20-minute ride treats you to breathtaking panoramic views of the entire Ice and Snow World in winter—especially spectacular at sunset and night. In summer, you'll be greeted by the lush, green wetlands lining both sides of the Songhua River.

You can see the giant Ferris Wheel in this photo:

I learnt a few new food names in this book: Madieer ice cream; and tanghulu (candied hawthorns, grapes, strawberries or pineapple).

Tanghulu are candied fruits popular in China as street food that combine the natural beauty of fresh fruit with a sweet sugar coating. It is carried by a bamboo stick or skewer. You can find it everywhere on the street, especially on cold winter days near the Chinese New Year. Typically Tanghuluis are made with hawthorn berries, which is a hard and sour fruit, but you can make Tanghulu with other favorite fruits.

This book could also be a jumping off point if you are talking about China - the story mentions The Great Wall and the Forbidden City and of course you will want to find a map so you can locate Harbin in Northern China.

Anna Wilson is sure to have enjoyed exploring the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. There are so many fabulous photos you can search for showing the ice sculptures and the lights.

The Harbin Ice and Snow World is the largest ice and snow theme park in the world, officially certified by Guinness World Records. ...  The park features over 2,000 ice and snow sculptures that blend cultural heritage with immersive tech-light effects, surpassing the monotonous displays found in most other countries. ... the Harbin Ice and Snow World has opened for 27 consecutive years. Each year, it builds delicate ice and snow sculptures under different themes. Visitors can marvel at the dazzling night views illuminated by colorful lights, participate in winter sports, snow shows, and other unique activities. To ensure a cozy and comfortable experience even in the bone-chilling cold, heated rest areas and warm food halls are readily available across the park. Source

This is a new book which will be released tomorrow. Thank you to UQP for my advance copy. Here are the teachers notes for The Festival of Ice and Snow (but I do suggest you and your young reading companion or class or library group plan to read and enjoy this book before you share some of the teaching idea ideas which analyse the page designs, word choices and illustrations).

You will recognise the name Angie Cui from her book My Mum is a Bird. It was a CBCA 2026 Notable title but I am sorry to say it is a book that just didn't resonate with me.

I previously talked about these books illustrated by Anna Wilson. I thought she was from the UK but now I discover she lives in Castlemaine, Victoria:

The Librarian's Stories

Love Birds

A taste of Home

And I have these books on my 'to read' list for a long time:

If the idea of visiting an ice and snow theme park interests you (it most certainly interests me!) I found this table comparing the Harbin event with others from around the world:

Finally take a look at this post about the book Our World Full of Wonder - if you visit China you might also like to see Rainbow Mountain China (Zhangye National Geopark).

Essential Fairy Tales: Hansel and Gretel

Thinking about Hansel and Gretel I always have an image of that amazing house in my mind. I also love the way it is Gretel who is able to outsmart the witch. Take a look at what Slap Happy Larry has to say about the gingerbread house. If you want to take an even deeper dive into the symbolism and meanings in Hansel and Gretel take a look here. 

Rachel Isadora

Bethan Woollvin

Emma Chichester Clark

James Marshall

Holly Hobbie

Jane Ray

Bernadette Watts

Paul O. Zelinsky

Then you might look for these:

I recently stumbled upon this series - a combination of the fairy tale with a nonfiction text presented as fold out pages.  I am very keen to see this book and others from the series:

And this one has just been published in 2025:

Maurice Sendak

Essential Fairy Tales

When you hear the word Fairy Tale what do you think of?

Rumpelstiltskin; Three Billy goats; Wild Swans; Cinderella; Beauty and the beast; Sleeping Beauty; Rapunzel; Twelve dancing princesses; Rapunzel; The Elves and the shoemaker; The Frog Prince; Hansel and Gretel; Puss in boots; Jack and the Beanstalk; Goldilocks.

My plan is to share picture book editions of fairy tales over the coming days. 

Unpacking my heading: Essential - kids need to hear these many times; and Fairy Tales - I am limiting this discussion to the European tradition:

At some future date this topic will be the focus of a new presentation from IBBY Australia. 

This set of posts will mainly consist of book covers for each fairy tale.

Works by the Grimm Brothers (Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm) 

• Little Red Riding Hood
• Hansel and Gretel
• Snow White
• Sleeping Beauty
• The Frog Prince
• Rapunzel (note, this is believed to have been adapted from the original tale ‘Persinette’ by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force)

Charles Perrault

• Little Red Riding Hood
• Sleeping Beauty
• Cinderella
• Bluebeard
• Puss in Boots

Beauty and the Beast 

Joseph Jacobs 

• The Three Little Pigs
• Jack and the Bean Stalk
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears

What Makes Fairy Tales So Special?

Universal Themes: Fairy tales often explore universal themes such as good versus evil, love and loss, courage and perseverance, and the importance of family. These timeless themes resonate with readers of all ages, sparking important conversations and life lessons.

Magical Elements: From talking animals and enchanted forests to fairy godmothers and mischievous goblins, fairy tales are filled with fantastical elements that ignite our imaginations and transport us to wondrous worlds.

Symbolic Characters: Fairy tale characters often represent archetypes – the innocent child, the wise old woman, the brave knight, the wicked stepmother. These archetypes help us understand complex human emotions and behaviors in a simplified and relatable way.

Happy Endings (Mostly): While not all fairy tales have picture-perfect endings, many do culminate in a sense of justice and hope. This can be particularly comforting for children, reinforcing the idea that good can triumph over evil.

The Benefits of Reading Fairy Tales

Language Development: Fairy tales expose children to rich vocabulary and complex sentence structures, fostering language development and reading comprehension.

Emotional Intelligence: By exploring the emotions and experiences of fairy tale characters, children can develop empathy and a deeper understanding of their own feelings.

Critical Thinking: Fairy tales often present moral dilemmas and ethical challenges, prompting children to think critically and consider different perspectives.

Cultural Awareness: Folk tales from different cultures offer insights into diverse traditions and values, fostering cultural awareness and appreciation.

Recognition of fairy tale tropes and reference in contemporary culture, music, art and advertising. 

Little Man finds a Home by Max Velthuijs translated by Rosemary Lanning

Dutch edition of Little Man Finds a Home

"There was once a tiny little man who lived in an old carboard shoe box. He was happy there."

But then the rain comes and it rains so much his little house is destroyed. So, he sets off to find a new home. He tries living with a bird in a tree but alas he falls out. He tries living in a glass jar with a frog (our Frog is Frog character) but alas it is much too hot. He joins a rabbit in his cosy burrow but alas when thirteen baby rabbits arrive it is way too crowded. Then he meets a Little Woman picking apples and she offers him the perfect home and the perfect place for a party with all of his new friends.

Little Man finds a Home was published in 1983 under the title Klein-Mannchen hat kein Haus.

This book is such a special one to have found at a recent charity book fair. You might already know I am a huge fan of the Frog is Frog series by Max Velthuijs. When I read Little Man finds a Home, I saw the familiar little frog in his striking boardshorts - could this book have been written before the famous series? I went hunting and discovered that YES that is how we come to have Frog.

And I think there were other books in this original series, Klein Mannetje helpt een vriend (Little Man helps find a friend); Klein-Mannetje vindt het geluk (Little Man finds happiness); Klein-Mannetje heeft geen huis (Little Man has no House); Klein Männchen und das Glück: Drei liebenswerte Geschichten (Little Man and Happiness - three stories).

I read this on the IBBY International page - Max Velthuijus won the IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2004. He sadly died in 2005 aged 81.

Frog started as a secondary character in the books about ‘Klein-Mannetje’ (Klein-Männchen), but beginning with Kikker is verliefd (Frog in Love, 1989 Andersen Press, London) he became a character of his own, with his own feelings and thoughts. The stories about Frog and his friends contain elements of fairy tale and fable. Just like in a traditional fable there is a message in his books but presented as a general and universal truth. Not a finger raised in warning. Velthuijs doesn’t warn his readers he shows them how the world is organized and how people react. Without closing his eyes to how people can treat others unjustly, he always comes with a positive solution for the dilemmas of Frog and his friends.

In his Frog books Velthuijs brings existential themes/subjects in words and pictures back to their essence. Kikker en het vogeltje (Frog and the Birdsong) is a beautifully simple account of the mystery of death and the need to celebrate the joys of being alive. This complex and challenging idea is presented with strong, dramatic pictures. Kikker en de Vreemdeling (Frog and the Stranger) deserves a special mention for the way this story deals with prejudice and fear for outsiders, racism and mutual understanding. Lovesickness is the central theme in Kikker is verliefd (Frog in love); solidarity in Kikker in de kou (Frog in Winter); and fear in Kikker is bang (Frog is frightened).

The animals in the picture books are, as Velthuijs said, ‘a kind of children of me, they have their own personality in which there is always a part of myself.’ Frog is childlike wide-eyed, Pig is home-loving, Hare is the intellectual one who always has a thoughtful judgement and Rat is an adventurer, perhaps the most enterprising animal in the Frog books. All Velthuijs’ stories are suffused with a sense of security, and the moral of each story is presented with gentle humour. It is this humour and security – in words and pictures, which the Frog books show to perfection.

I also own some drinking glasses with images from Frog is Frog - they were a truly special gift from a friend a few years ago! They almost look like this - we both wondered how they came to be in a charity shop here in Sydney Australia. 

Tomorrow Most Likely by Dave Eggers illustrated by Lane Smith

"Tomorrow most likely there will be a sky. And chances are it will be blue.

Tomorrow most likely there will be a squirrel. And chances are his name is Stu."

There will also be a meal, a door (that leads to the world), a song, a plane, a bright blue bug, an interesting smell, a stone, or you might ride a whale. 

"Tomorrow most likely will be a great day because you are in it and Stu is okay."

This book is sadly out of print (published in 2019) but you might find a copy in a library - I sure hope you do! Here is the Kirkus review. See more pages inside this book here. 

Written by celebrated author Dave Eggers and illustrated by Caldecott honoree Lane Smith, Tomorrow Most Likely is a heartfelt (and not-so-quiet) bedtime story that brings affirmation and comfort to young audiences. By juxtaposing the small and the grand, the familiar and the odd, what is and what can be, author and illustrator provide confidence to a little boy facing the big, wide world. Good Reads with Ronna

You could share Tomorrow Most Likely as a bedtime read aloud in your family or you could use it as a writing idea with a group of older students after a discussion about optimism!

My friend spied this treasure at a recent charity book sale - Lane Smith - I am a huge fan and Dave Eggers - his book for middle grade readers The Eyes and the Impossible is a book that still lingers with me over three years since I read it.

The Eyes and the Impossible

Companion book:

And try to find these:

The Big Question

Things to look forward to

Pablo Neruda Book of Questions

Do you Wonder?

Who is the world for?

Meet a few illustrators and authors speaking at the IBBY Congress

Natali de Mello

Blurb for When we go Home: Marlee’s parents are excited. "We are going back home!" they tell her and her brother. "Not my home," Marlee says. She knows the island is where her mum and dad grew up, and that she and her brother will get to do lots of fun things when they visit. But she’s never been there. And though her dad says a person can have two home countries, Marlee isn’t sure she believes him. But slowly, the warm welcome from her large, loving family, the coconut water she drinks on the beach and the many other delights she discovers on the island, from pigs on the beach to music at bedtime, help Marlee see that what her dad says is true. (Read the review in Quill and Quire)

Natali de Mello is a Brazilian-Canadian author and illustrator based in Ottawa, creating picture books and visual stories that blend imagination, design, and a touch of humour. I’ve been working in children’s publishing for nearly a decade, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and nature through a mix of traditional and digital media. My background includes an MA in Illustration from Falmouth University, a Certificate in Visual Arts and a BA in Architecture.

I’m the author-illustrator of Curious Capybara (Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, 2026), and the illustrator of When We Go Home (Kids Can Press, 2026), as well as several other titles published with Planète Rebelle and Kata, including Suivez la capitaine fourmi! (2024) and Indrazaal et la quête de l’océan (2023). I’m currently working on new picture books as both author and illustrator, including projects with Planète Rebelle and Heritage. I’m also developing my first middle-grade graphic novel, Lyla and the Squirrels, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council—a story about curiosity, friendship, and small rebellions. Here is her Instagram page.

Sadé Smith

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sadé Smith is the Canadian children's book author of Granny's Kitchen which was nominated for the Blue Spruce Award for the Forest of Reading 2023 and shortlisted for the 2023 Crystal Kite Award. She is of Jamaican descent and her books often involve food and recipes with colorful illustrations to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the Caribbean islands. 

Granny’s Kitchen is her debut children’s picture book illustrated by Ken Daley. Her second book Julie and the Mango Tree illustrated by Sayada Ramdial has been selected for the CBC Books list of 40 Canadian kids books to read in spring 2023 and the Barnes & Noble’s list of Most Anticipated Kids’ Books for August 2023. It has also been selected for the 2025 TD Summer Reading Club.

 Jean-François Sénéchal

Here is the Kirkus review of I will not be Scared

 

Here is the Kirkus Star review

The son of two teachers, Jean-François Sénéchal was born surrounded by books. After studying anthropology and writing a few texts on Haiti, he returned to his first love and devoted himself to literature. He was a frequent finalist for the Prix Jeunesse des libraires du Québec (Quebec Booksellers’ Youth Prize), which he won with Au carrefour (At the Crossroads). For this novel, as well as for Feu (Fire), he was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Awards. He was also a finalist for the Prix du livre jeunesse des Bibliothèques de Montréal (Montreal Libraries’ Youth Book Prize) and the winner of the Prix Adolecteurs (Adolescent Readers’ Prize) and the Prix Bernadette-Renaud (Bernadette Renaud Prize) for Le boulevard (The Boulevard), which was included on the 2018 Honour List of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Jean-François Sénéchal received the 2017 Joseph S. Stauffer Award for Literature from the Canada Council for the Arts.

The Magic Nesting Doll by Jacqueline K Oburn illustrated by Laurel Long

Katya is gifted a matryoshka, a nesting doll, by her grandmother.

"If your need is great, open the doll and help will come. But you may only do so three times. After that, the magic will be gone. Keep the doll and remember me."

Right from those words I knew Katya would use her gift wisely and unselfishly and I also knew I was in the realm of a fairytale because there are going to be a pattern of three. 

Just like in the famous story of The Snow Queen, Katya arrives in a city that is under the spell of perpetual winter, it is always night and there is no moon or dawn. The young Tsar (Tsarvetich) has been turned into living ice. He is watched over by his uncle the Grand Vizier.

"They took her into the chamber of the frozen prince. Katya had never seen a man so beautiful. His full lips were pale blue and his glassy hands long and fine. He hair glistened like frost. The only sign that he was not a statue carved of ice was the faint cloud of breath and the slight stirring of his chest."

I guess you are jumping ahead and thinking Katya will be the one to break this spell - and yes, she does but she will need help. And yes, that Grand Vizier is not to be trusted. Katya is thrown into the dungeon. It is time to use her first nesting doll - a bear. Now the snow is gone but the prince is still in his deathly sleep.

Next Katya is banished to a ravine - time to use her doll - this time the help comes from a wolf. The prince gains a little colour to his face as the moon once again appears in the sky and the Grand Visier is himself beginning to freeze. The third test comes when Katya is taken to the top of a remote mountain. Her third doll is the firebird. "Who better than a firebird to bring back the sun?"

Katya returns to the prince expecting to see him awake but alas, even though is restored - his hair is brown, his skin is warm - he is still in a deep sleep. What will she do? Be still my romantic heart!

The details of snow, birds, clothing, plants, and animals, and the lavish designs in the architecture and in the interiors, in combination with the appealing story, simply and economically told, but rich in archetypes, make this a book to be enjoyed over and over again. Kirkus

This book is from 2000 so it is 26 years old BUT it might be in your local or school library - that is a major joy of libraries that you can find 'old' treasures like this book. And I don't mean 'old' in the sense of old fashioned or outdated or worn out - I mean an 'old' book because it was published a long while ago. Of course, the story in this book is fairytale and so it is utterly timeless. I expect this Russian story has been told in many other books and forms.

Bookseller blurb: A wicked spell has changed a handsome young prince to a pale glassy figure made of "living ice," and his kingdom to a frozen landscape of night without moon, dark without dawn. Katya knows that it's up to her to rescue the prince and undo the evil spell that has banished the sun. Armed with only the magic nesting doll and her own valiant heart, she is determined to succeed. But will her courage and the mysterious nesting doll be strong enough to prevail? Laurel Long's dazzling jewel-like paintings and Jacqueline K. Ogburn's romantic original tale were inspired by Russian folk art and stories. This talented duo has created a modern classic that honors its folklore heritage while depicting a world in which a girl can be anything, including a hero.

Back when this book was first published you could buy a set of nesting dolls to match the story!

Companion books:

The Quilt Makers Gift

Cherry blossom and the Golden Bear

The Glassmakers' Daughter

Jacqueline K. Ogburn is a children's book author whose work frequently explores folklore, mythology, and creative uses of language. After earning bachelor's degrees in English and philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she held various positions before spending a decade in New York City book publishing, primarily as a children's book editor at houses including Lothrop, Lee & Shepard and Dial Books for Young Readers. Following her move to North Carolina to raise her family, she began a second career writing picture books, where her background in editing and lifelong interest in stories shaped her approach to imaginative narratives. Ogburn's earlier titles demonstrate her engagement with mythological traditions and inventive storytelling, including retellings of Russian folklore in The Magic Nesting Doll and a Brothers Grimm-inspired tale in The Lady and the Lion, as well as original stories that blend whimsy with cultural elements. 

Laurel Long is the illustrator of many books for children, including Hans Brinker by Bruce Coville, The Magic Nesting Doll by Jacqueline K. Ogburn and The Lady & The Lion, a Grimm story. Her picture book, The Mightiest Heart by Lynn Cullen was awarded the Gold Medal by the Society of Illustrators. ... Laurel Long is a Professor in the Art Department at California State University, Northridge.

Here are some illustrations from The Magic Nesting Doll: