My Books

Reviews are in for SO MUCH SNOW

I am grateful for the wonderful reviews SO MUCH SNOW is receiving — and these reviewers all agree that it’s a great fit for storytime.

A “starred review” from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Book:

“Playful and full of wonder, this is an ideal pick for a seasonal storytime that celebrates wintertime joy and emphasizes an appreciation of the beauty of nature.”

The snowflakes swirl and the wintry winds whirl as seven forest creatures are caught in a snowstorm. Throughout the week, the snow piles up everywhere they can imagine, covering the ground and soon rising to the trees, even to the mountains, and they ask themselves, “How high will it go?” Just as they are convinced the snowstorm will never end something miraculous happens: the sun greets the forest creatures with a hello, its rays of warmth melting the white blankets of snow. As days pass by, their surroundings begin to change, with fresh water from the stream flowing, green grass sprouting, and buds blossoming into flowers—all signs that spring has arrived. The forest creatures’ perspectives are the central focus in this lyrical narrative, with their observations dancing with alliteration and abstract sceneries that will leave readers in awe. Jacoby’s watercolor and gouache techniques pair with an earthy-toned palette to evoke a soft and visually appealing transition of winter to spring. Playful and full of wonder, this is an ideal pick for a seasonal storytime that celebrates wintertime joy and emphasizes an appreciation of the beauty of nature.

From Kirkus Reviews:

“Bursting with appeal factors for kids, this charming book is perfect for a winter (or spring!) storytime.“

A series of animals, from smallest to largest, enjoy a week of snowfall, then welcome spring as the snow melts away.

On Monday, a mouse welcomes a few flakes of snow that resemble dandelion puffs. On each subsequent day, the snow accumulates—described in a poetic two-word alliterative phrase—and an animal wonders, “How high will it go?” By the time Sunday arrives, only a moose’s antler is visible through the snow (“When will it go?”). Sunshine then begins to melt the snow, with each animal reappearing in the reverse order they were initially presented, and each page has more color than the next, culminating in spring wildflowers. All the animals—mouse, rabbit, fox, wolf, deer, bear, and moose—revel in the spring weather, their body language and expressions playful and engaging. “But wait!” Another snowflake drifts down, and on the final spread, Bear stands to greet another snowfall. There is much to love here; patterned language, animals, and seasonal surprises combine for a sure hit. Even the back cover is cleverly designed, with each animal’s ears (or antlers) poking out of a mountain of snow. Bursting with appeal factors for kids, this charming book is perfect for a winter (or spring!) storytime.

From Booklist:

“Fast-moving text and vibrant natural images make this a good addition to seasonal storytimes.”

A mouse stands on hind legs, reaching for a snowflake. The surrounding ground is brown, and only three flakes are showing, so it’s humorous when the text asks, “How high will it go?” The next day, however, there is more snow. The ground is now white, and this time it is a rabbit happily welcoming the snowflakes. As the days pass and the snow coverage grows, many animals disappear from view, hunkering down through the storm. When the snow melts, moose, bear, deer, wolf, fox, rabbit, and mouse reappear, and this time there are touches of green in the illustrations. Spring is on the way. We think we’ve completed the whole progression and will now be moving on to a new season, but—is that another snowflake falling? The watercolor, pastel, and digital illustrations effectively convey all the stages of the snowfall, with blowing flakes, partial then total coverage, and slow melting, with color employed to delineate the different stages. Fast-moving text and vibrant natural images make this a good addition to seasonal storytimes.

Meet Freddy!

I ordered a real life plush version of Freddy from my picture book, FREDDY THE NOT-TEDDY, from a great company named Budsies. They brought the character created by illustrator Hilary Jean Tapper to life so beautifully! Can’t wait for kids to give him a cuddle!

FREDDY THE NOT-TEDDY available to order!

Bookshop.org (support independent booksellers!)

https://bookshop.org/…/freddy-the-not-teddy/9781922539090

Barnes & Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/freddy-the-not-teddy-kristen-schroeder/1140140646?ean=9781922539090

Target

https://www.target.com/p/freddy-the-not-teddy-by-kristen-schroeder-hardcover/-/A-86201362#lnk=sametab

Positive reviews for ALIEN TOMATO from Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kristen-schroeder/alien-tomato/

“This comical tale will captivate readers with its animated protagonists and surprising ending. The veggies zing with lively personalities and expressiveness, conveyed in both cartoon faces and speech bubbles, and the mammalian buttinski is a know-it-all hoot….Young readers will never think about vegetables the same way again.”

https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-6241-4976-4

“In Schroeder’s debut, something red and round bounces into a garden, and the vegetables convince themselves that it’s an alien tomato. After some initial misgivings (“Will it zap us with lasers?” worries Reggie, a carrot), the vegetables embrace the newly christened “Allie” with wide-eyed enthusiasm; they explain away the alien’s silence (“It probably doesn’t speak our language”) and fete it with crumpets, tea, and a special crown. But there’s one naysayer in this bushel: a gopher…”

School Library Journal https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=alien-tomato

VERDICT This welcome addition to picture book collections is likely to become a read-aloud favorite for preschool and lower elementary school audiences.