One morning, Peter woke to find that his world had transformed into a wonderland while he slept. Gone
were the big city buildings, streets, stop signs and cars. In their place were paths to experiment walking
down, snowballs thrown at the big kids, towering hills to be slid down, and snow angels to be made.
Peter's neighborhood became a place of magic to be explored alone or with a friend. And, in the end, he
learned an important lesson about snowballs disappearing overnight when you try to save them in your
coat pocket for later.
Keats' art puts you in the conic red jumpsuit and surrounds you with warm colors and good feelings
while you explore the magic that every neighborhood feels during a snowstorm, and gives you the
wonderfully unexpected lay off from work and school as a city finds its path through the snow banks.
We all become Peter and pine for the snowy days of our youth, and excitedly wait for the next snowy day
that will keep us home from school. We don't worry about what isn't getting done today or whether or not
there are groceries in the kitchen or if the pipes will freeze - we only enjoy snowmen, snow angels and
the differences in our tracks when we walk this way or that.
It is nearly impossible to read this to your little one on your own snowy day (or even a warm day when
you pine for winter wonderlands of your own) without a smile on your face. The memories of telling your
own mother about your adventures while she takes off your wet socks will overpower you. Like Peter's
snowball, you'll hang onto these memories for as long as possible.
Reviewed by: A Freeman
What is the metephore