About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is transfixed by the first snowfall of the season or if they are beginning to wonder how small, individual things combine to create something massive. It is the perfect bridge for a child who loves nature but might feel intimidated by math, showing how the two are inextricably linked through the quiet magic of a winter storm. The book uses lyrical, rhyming poetry and striking paper-collage illustrations to track a landscape as it transforms from a single flake into a blizzard. By introducing the concept of exponents and doubling, it teaches the 'power' of numbers alongside the power of nature. It is a calming, awe-inspiring read for children aged 6 to 10 that encourages them to look closer at the world around them and find the hidden patterns in the wild.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. This is a secular, nature-based exploration of weather and mathematics.
Ideal Reader
A second or third grader who enjoys 'I Spy' style visual details but is also starting to ask 'how many?' about the world. It is excellent for the 'math-phobic' child who needs a poetic entry point into numerical concepts.
Parent Prep
Read it cold. The endnotes are helpful for explaining exponents if the child asks for more detail beyond the rhyme. A parent might choose this after their child expresses disbelief at how fast a yard fills with snow, or perhaps after a child complains that math feels 'boring' or 'pointless' in school.
